Junior Eurovision 2023 - story of the day in pictures

All sixteen acts got together ahead of the Junior Eurovision show in Nice

It was a day of spectacular performances, amazing costumes and high drama.

Sixteen countries, represented by children aged between nine and 14, competed at the 21st Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Nice, France.

Host country France ran out winners with Zoe's song Coeur while UK girl group STAND UNIQU3 came in fourth.

Here's the story of the day in pictures.

First up was Spain's Sandra who lit up the skies with a spectacular stage show during her song Loviu. It was a big hit with the audience and voters around the world, scoring 201 points to finish second overall.

Second on stage was Malta's Yulan with her song Stronger. She is an experienced performer after appearing on Malta's Got Talent and the Voice Kids. Yulan scored 94 points to finish 10th overall.

Anastasia of Ukraine is the youngest singer in the contest but the 9-year-old showed no nerves at all as she performed Kvitka and finishing in fifth place.

Jessica McKean was fourth up on stage, singing Aisling. She lives on a dairy farm in a quiet town in Ireland but she certainly brought the noise to the arena. She scored 42 points to finish 16th.

This was the moment UK fans had been waiting for - girl group STAND UNIQU3 taking to the stage to perform Back to Life, a song about facing your fears. Maisie, Hayla and Yazmin put in a brilliant performance to finish fourth.

Tamara has been singing since the age of five and wowed the crowd with her song Kaži Mi, Kaži Mi Ko. Her 76 points brought her home in 12th place.

It was time for one country to make its Junior Eurovision debut. ARHANNA, who plays piano and composes songs, came in 15th spot with Estonia entry Hoiame Kokku.

The Yan Girls from Armenia had the crowd on its feet with their K-pop inspired song Do It My Way. They scored highly in both the jury and public voting, and secured third place with 180 points.

Polish singer Maja certainly brought a stage show to remember as she performed her song I Just Need A Friend. And it paid off with a sixth place finish.

Anastasia won a big talent contest in Georgia to earn her place at Junior Eurovision. She sang Over the Sky alongside Nikoloz Kharati and Oto Bazerashvili, finishing 14th.

Julia from Portugal performed Where I Belong, finishing in 13th place overall. She won the Voice Kids (Portugal) this year so it's certainly been a 2023 to remember.

The biggest cheer of the night was saved for France act Zoe who turned in an amazing performance to win the contest with 228 points. It was France's third win in four years.

Albania entry Viola looked like she had wings ... and she was flying with her song Bota Ime to finish in 8th place.

Italy's Melissa and Ranya slowed things down with their ballad Un Mondo Giusto. Both girls were on Italy's version of the Voice Kids. They were voted 11th.

German act FIA impressed the audience by using sign language to translate her song Ohne Worte. She did it to communicate to her little sister. Germany finished ninth.

Netherlands duo Sep and Jasmijn brought the contest to a close in style with their song Holding On To You. And after voting, they finished in seventh place.

The contest ended in smiles for singer Zoe after the host nation were voted Junior Eurovision winners for the third time in four years.