Nayah (born Sylvie Mestres) is a French singer.
Career
Nayah launched her music career after six years of studies at the
Perpignan
Perpignan (, , ; ca, Perpinyà ; es, Perpiñán ; it, Perpignano ) is the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the ...
Academy of Music and Drama. She was chosen to represent France during the
Eurovision Song Contest of 1999 which was held in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. Before going to Eurovision, attention was given to her in the French press when they revealed her relationship with the
International Raëlian Movement
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
(I.R.M.). Nayah entered the I.R.M. following her husband, and she had climbed the Guide levels until she became an assistant guide (Level 3). This happened after she released a first CD in 1988 titled ''Elohim'' which presents themes of the
Raëlian Philosophy.
Although the singer confirmed that she had left the I.R.M. since 1996, Nayah followed a mobilization of anti-I.R.M associations, fearing that a victory offers a platform that is a little too visible with the International Raëlian Movement. She was not however prohibited from taking part in the contest, where she ranked 19 out of 23.
Nayah has since returned to the I.R.M. Nayah's return was quoted by the I.R.M. several times to point out the
ostracism
Ostracism ( el, ὀστρακισμός, ''ostrakismos'') was an Athenian democratic procedure in which any citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years. While some instances clearly expressed popular anger at the cit ...
she had been facing and continued to face. In attempt to reverse this situation, an electronic book called ''Proud to be Raëlian'' was published in 2005.
[''Proud to be Raëlian'', Nova Distribution, 2005.] A source alleges that Nayah confirmed that she had quit the International Raëlian Movement for good. This source was completely fabricated by the producer and his agent to occult the adherence of Nayah to the International Raëlian Movement. Nayah made a testimony on the subject which is printed on page 145-146 of the book ''Proud to be Raëlian'':
Achievements
* 1990: Finalist in Swiss Eurovision
* 1996: "Gold Wandering entertainers"
* 1997: Gaining 1st Open Show in New Casting in Geneva
* 1997: 1st prize with St-Aubin Contest in Switzerland
* 1997: Challenge Eddie Barclay
* 1998: Finalist of the Rose d' Or with Antibes (France)
* 1999: Participation in Eurovision.
Discography
* 1988: '' Elohim ''
* 1999: MINOR ROAD 2 titles. ''I want to give my voice'' took 19th place in the Eurovision contest)
Quote
"I do nothing but pass while hoping to leave on my passage some drops of humanity." – Nayah
Footnotes
External links
* https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125322/http://www.compagnie-spectacles.com/spectacle/sosie-celine-dion.html
*
{{Use dmy dates, date=December 2019
French women singers
Eurovision Song Contest entrants for France
Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1999
Living people
1960 births