Dana International

Sharon Cohen (Hebrew: שרון כהן‎), professionally known as Dana International (born male, Yaron Cohen on February 2, 1972) is an Israeli pop singer of a Yemenite Jewish origin. She is most famous for having won the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Diva." She is arguably one of the most famous transsexual celebrities in the world. Her career began in 1992, and since then she has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums, positioning herself as one of Israel's most successful musical acts ever.

Sharon Cohen was born Yaron Cohen on 2 February 1972 to Yemenite parents as the youngest of three children after sister Limor and brother Nimrod. Cohen was named after an uncle who had been killed during a terrorist attack. Though born genetically male, Cohen identified as a female from a very young age. Cohen wanted to become a singer ever since she was eight-years-old and saw legendary Israeli singer Ofra Haza performing her song "Chai" in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest. Although the family was quite poor, Cohen's mother worked to pay for Cohen's music lessons, and she has explained that her childhood was rather happy.
Cohen came out as transsexual at the age of thirteen.
The first tragedy in Cohen's life was the death of her best friend Daniel, who died in an automobile accident. Cohen asserts that Daniel had prophesied that she would someday have a successful singing career and claims that Daniel's prediction is what pushed her to become the singer she wanted to be.

In 1995, Dana attempted to fulfill her childhood dream of performing in the Eurovision Song Contest. She entered the Eurovision qualifying contest K'dam in Israel with a song entitled "Layla Tov, Eropa" ("Good Night Europe") which finished second in the pre-selections but became another hit single.

Dana was chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Diva." Orthodox Jews and others with conservative views were opposed to her appointment and attempted to void her participation in the contest. However, in May 1998, Dana performed "Diva" at the Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham and took Europe by storm, winning the contest with 174 points. She thus became an international superstar, being interviewed by CNN, BBC, Sky News and MTV among others.

Currently, Dana International is in the studio putting the finishing touches on her next album. The first single was rumoured to be released in December 2008. Dana has also recorded a song called "Mifrats Ha Ahava" ("The Love Bay") for an Israeli version of the TV-show "Paradise Hotel". She recently collaborated with the Ukranian transsexual group NeAngely (No Angels). They recorded the song "I Need Your Love" together, the song and video has just been released. In late November of 2008 Dana starts shooting her new reality show in Israel.
Dana campaigned with Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni shortly before 2009 legislative elections in Israel. At a "campaign happening for women" in Jerusalem, Dana performed a bouncy disco song right beside Livni onstage. Dana announced, "I now formally invite you to the diva sisterhood."