Australia's Dami Im celebrates when learning that she advanced to the final during the second Eurovision Song Contest. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Im’s triumphant performance of Sound of Silence in the semi-final saw Australia join Latvia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, Poland, Israel, Lithuania and Belgium to progress into the grand final, which airs at 5am Sunday morning in Australia.

“I’m quite competitive, I want to win this for Australia,” Im told News Corp this morning.

“Obviously the other contestants want to win as well, but I’m confident and I’m going to give it my best.”

Dami Im killed it on stage during the second Eurovision Song Contest semi-final in Stockholm. Picture: AP/Martin MeissnerSource:AP

Im has been praised for nailing her performance of the ballad, which includes many of the sky-high vocal notes Eurovision is famous for.

Bookies are tipping highly Im’s chances of Eurovision glory. She is second favourite behind Russia.

“I was actually quite nervous before the performance but the people in the room were amazing, they were a really enthusiastic crowd,” she said.

“They started singing along and they were very welcoming. I felt really good by the end of it.

Australia's Dami Im draped in the Australian flag as she learns she is through to the grand final. Picture: AP/Martin MeissnerSource:AP

There were a lot of Australians in the audience too, I saw a lot of people dressed in green and gold wearing Australian flags. I felt right at home.”

Unlike Guy Sebastian last year, who was automatically fast-tracked into the grand final, Im had to be voted into the grand final.

Had she lost in the semi-final she would have been eliminated from the competition — this morning favourites including Ireland, represented by former Westlife singer Nicky Byrne, went home.

Her victory has also silenced many who felt Australia had been given special treatment and didn’t belong in the event.

“I’m very grateful and so relieved that Europe has voted for me,” Im said. “It’s great that I’ve earned my place here with peoples’ support. It feels great that me and the Dami Army are going together and doing this as a team.”

Russia's Sergey Lazarev is now Dami Im’s biggest rival. Picture: Maja Suslin/TT News AgencySource:AP

Russian stinger Sergey Lazarev the hot favourite to win Eurovision this year with his song You Are The Only One.

“Everyone’s favourite is Russia and he’s probably going to be the toughest competition,” Im said. “I did love lots of different performances though, there’s some great songs — I love Belgium’s song and Spain’s song and Ukraine’s song is also amazing. It’s going to be a tough competition.”

Im’s performance starts with her seated on a box, with special effects used to make it look like she is swiping a computer screen in front of her, ala Tom Cruise in Minority Report.

When the camera cuts away Im is lifted down to finish the song on her feet.

“I was a bit nervous about how that was going to turn out because everything has to be timed perfectly with the guys lifting me off the box, and the camera angles and of course I’m singing at the same time. Tonight it worked out really well and it came out perfectly on camera so I’m really happy with that.

“I’ve been changing a few things in rehearsals, some bits have worked out better than others so naturally I try to go with those.

“I still have three or four more rehearsals before the grand final. I want to save my voice until then, but it’s hard at Eurovision because everyone watches and films the rehearsals so I can’t really not sing at full range through them, so I guess I’ll just not talk and be anti social!”

Im’s dress is by Australian designer Steven Khalil.

While the singer has been joined in Sweden by husband Noah Kim, she has heard from friends and family back in Australia, as well as her X Factor mentor Dannii Minogue, who has a large social media following across Europe.

“Dannii’s between tweeting since 5am to support me, I’m so grateful of how supportive and generous she has been.”

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and this year’s hosts Sweden have also been confirmed participants in the Grand Final.

Im was among 10 out of 18 contestants in her semi-final round to get through following a glittering show at the Swedish capital’s Globe Arena after winning enough votes from Eurovision fans and music juries across 42 competing countries.

The 10 countries that survived the second semi-final to advance into to the grand final will join 16 other contestants already through.

Australian fans were out in force wearing the flag and waving inflatable kangaroos in Stockholm with many outside the area calling themselves “Dami Army”. After co-presenter Petra Mede announced Australia was through, Im was shown jumping up and down holding an Australian flag.

She performed in a glittering white gown, at first sitting on a shining cube then striding across a stage as shafts of coloured light flashed all around before she finished with head back, hitting a high note.

The performance appeared faultless and Im was cheered by flag-waving fans from across Europe.

It means 27-year-old Im, from Brisbane, will perform for the title on Saturday at 9pm Central European Time (Sunday, 5am AEST).

Reigning winners Sweden are also guaranteed a place in the final alongside the Big Five, The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Dami Im, the Australian X Factor winner, got enough votes in her semi final to advance.

Many rate her song as one of the strongest ballads in the competition.

It is clearly one of those tunes that can linger in your head.

She is Australia’s second participant in Eurovision after the country was given a wildcard entry last year, with entrant Guy Sebastian coming fifth with his song Tonight Again.

Sweden will be the only Scandinavian country in the finals. They were always guaranteed a spot due to their win last year.

One of the biggest shocks however was Ireland missing out. They had selected former boy band member Nicky Byrne formerly of Westlife to sing their song.

However the Irishman was not among the top contenders once those moving forward were announced.

Many will be hoping that Im can do better than Guy Sebastian’s impressive fifth place finish in Australia’s first appearance at Eurovision last year.

However she faces some stiff competition, particularly from the following countries.

Another semi final takes airs 5am Saturday Australia time before the Grand Final airs on SBS live from Sweden at 5am Sunday

RUSSIA

Sergey Lazarev, recipient of every possible Russian music award last year, has a background performing in pop bands and is one of the biggest pop stars in Russia.

His song You Are The Only One is catchy and will be paired by a visual extravaganza.

It’s drawn comparisons to last year’s winner Heroes, which used similar CGI effects.

Russia is normally in or around the Top Five so expect them to be in the mix.

UKRAINE

This song is a little off the wall. It is a dark song about singer Jamala’s great-grandmother, who was deported in 1944 by Russia’s leader Josef Stalin.

It is haunting and moody and gives you goosebumps.

However, if the Ukraine is to win it should not be counting on votes from Russia to get it over the line.

FRANCE

If Leonardo DiCaprio was ‘owed’ an Oscar for his close calls in previous races then by that logic it is France’s turn to win. The country hasn’t won since 1977 and has come very close.

Some put that down to their insistence that the song be sung in French. However, this year’s contestant Amir may have an edge by singing his song J’ai Cherche in a mixture of English and French.

This song is also super catchy.

SWEDEN

If France is the Leonardo DiCaprio of Eurovision then Sweden is the Meryl Streep, having won twice in the past four years.

Could they be set to do it again? Possibly! Their entrant Frans is something of a Justin Bieber wannabe who delivers the ballad If I Were Sorry with conviction.

The song sounds a bit like Lukas Graham’s 7 Years, a huge global hit so expect Frans to be in the finish.

ARMENIA

Contestant Iveta Mukuchyan was one of the favourites as well but her odds have dropped a bit since she was nearly disqualified from the competition. Eurovision has strong rules against waving regional flags which the singer broke. She was warned that not only could Armenia be disqualified from this year but for the next couple as well.

Controversy aside, her song Love Wave has proven to be popular with critics and the public.

MALTA

Tiny Malta have clearly been doing their homework on how to take the Eurovision title.

Firstly, they brought back Ira Losco, who came an agonising second when she represented Malta in 2002.

They have also enlisted four Swedish songwriters to come up with this year’s entry — Walk on Water.