Noa Kirel

Noa Kirel (נועה קירל; born Noya Kirel, נויה קירל; born April 10, 2001) is an Israeli singer-songwriter, actress, model, television host, and a reality television program judge in Israel's Got Talent. She has won five MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Israeli Act from 2017 to 2022. She represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Unicorn", finishing in 3rd place.

Early and personal life
Noya Kirel was born and raised in Ra'anana, Israel, to Israeli-born parents. Her mother's family is of both Sephardi Jewish and Mizrahi Jewish (Moroccan-Jewish) descent, whereas her father's family is of Ashkenazi Jewish (Austrian-Jewish) descent. She is the youngest child of Ilana and Amir Kirel. She has two older brothers, Niv Kirel and Ofree Kirel. Her father is the CEO of Glassco Glass, an imported-glass business, headquartered at the Barkan industrial park. Her mother is the owner of a boutique fashion store. On her father's side, Kirel has relatives who were murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust. Her maternal grandfather was a rabbi and a sofer STM (Jewish scribe).

Her parents named her Noya but after she was diagnosed with a severe kidney illness as a three-month-old baby, a rabbi suggested a name change to Noa (which can also spell "movement" in Hebrew) for health and wellness, in addition to medical treatment by the universal healthcare of Israel. He also jokingly predicted that she might become a dancer. Kirel has only one functioning kidney, as a result of a bacteria that stopped her second kidney from growing anymore since that same diagnosis as an infant.

In February 2020, Kirel was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and served as a soldier in a unique military band of her own. She received an honorable discharge; completing her two-year mandatory service on 14 February 2022.

She had been in a relationship with Israeli model and actor Tomer HaCohen, from October 2021 to early 2023. As of 28 July 2023, she began dating Israel international football goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.

Pushers, Single releases (2015–2017); and LipStar
Kirel appeared in the Israeli docu-reality HOT's series Pushers, which tracks wealthy parents who push their children to success in different areas. The show featured teenage Kirel and her father, who was financially supporting her entertainment career. Kirel is managed in her homeland by Israeli talent super-agent Roberto Ben-Shoshan, and co-managed by Sharona Nomder (Morse Artists) internationally.

In 2015 she performed her first song on YouTube named Medabrim? ("talking") Following its success, that year she released another song called Killer. The provocative videoclip for the song caused a stir due to Kirel's young age. She released additional songs, which were featured on YouTube and played on various Israeli radio stations, including the songs Yesh Bi Ahava, which was the first song to enter the Galgalatz playlist, Rak Ata, Hatzi Meshuga, Bye LaHofesh, and Ten Li Siman. At the end of 2016, she won the award Singer of the Year at the Israeli Kids' Choice Awards.

In 2017, Kirel began hosting the LipStar music show on Yes KidZ channel, alongside Sagi Breitner. In May 2017, she released a song called Makom LeShinui which she sang in a duet with Avior Melasa who wrote the song. Kirel released several other songs that year which were all marketing singles: Lirkod, Kim'At Mefursemet, Wow, Mi Iten Li Et HaKoach.

On June 22, she starred in the teen movie Nearly Famous, alongside Omer Dror. That year, she also appeared in the musical The Three Musketeers alongside Omer Dror. On August 28, Kirel released a single which she performed with Agam Buhbut, a cover version of Danny Sanderson's song Etzel HaDoda VeHaDod, as part of a campaign for Bezeq. In November 2017, she represented Israel at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards, in the International Artist category.

Israel's Got Talent, Kfula, and Freestyle Festigal (2018–2019)
On February 28, 2018, she first appeared on Israel's Got Talent, where Kirel has served as one of its main four judges for its 1st season – making 16-year-old Kirel the youngest person to judge an entire season of a primetime television show. She also has judged the whole 2nd season of it, which took place from 28 November 2018, to 16 April 2019.

In January 2018, she starred in the television series Kfula playing herself and Kitty Popper (Libby Omer), a blogger who writes anything that happens to her famous self. The series aired on the KidZ channel on yes and HOT. In the same month, she released the song Ba Li Otcha. On March 25, 2018, she released the single MeGibor LeOyev. On May 1 of that year, she appeared in the series Shilton HaTzlalim as Bosmat. On August 9, a theater production Kfula show starring Kirel and the stars of the Kfula series opened at the Menora Mivtachim Arena (Yad Eliyahu Arena) in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. On August 20, the theme song for the #Freestyle Festigal production was released. In early September 2018, a full-length movie came out to promote the show. The show ran from November 13, 2018, to January 8, 2019. On September 5, 2018, Kirel featured in the song Cinderella of The Ultras. On September 20, she collaborated with the Shlishiat Ma Kashur trio along with Itai Levy on a new cover version of Arik Sinai's Siba Tova song, Hine Ze Ba, for a HOT campaign. In October, Kirel was selected for the second time to represent her native Israel at the MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMA), but was unable to attend the ceremony in Spain due to a tight schedule.

That month, Kirel was hired as a presenter for a new cosmetic company, Keff. On November 2, she released the song Zikaron Yashan in collaboration with Israeli singer Jonathan Mergui, as part of the Festigal. On November 11, the cast of the 2018 Festigal, including Kirel, released the original song Tinshom with a video clip. On November 23, she participated in a memorial tribute to Amir Fryszer Guttman. In December 2018, Kirel led a campaign with the KidZ Channel and the Israeli National Road Safety Authority promoting wearing a helmet while cycling. On April 17, 2019, she released the song Ima Sheli in memory of the Holocaust and as a reminder to the world to never forget and Never again. Shortly after, on April 28, she released the song Chatsuf. In May 2020 she participated in a yes commercial. In November 2020, Kirel joined 39 other Israeli artists for charity single Katan Aleinu, in support of hospital crews and patients to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

International recording contract (2020–present)
In June 2020, Kirel signed a contract with the American label, Atlantic Records. In December of that year, Kirel signed with WME. In March 2021, it was announced that Kirel would star in a feature film produced by Picturestart. In May 2021, Kirel in collaboration with fellow Israeli singer Omer Adam, released a remix version of the national anthem of the State of Israel, HaTikvah. The collaboration was criticized, with many calling it "disrespectful" and "embarrassing". In honor of Pride Month, Kirel and Israeli comedian Ilan Peled released the single Trilili Tralala.

On July 14, 2021, she released her first international single, Please Don't Suck. On October 15, 2021, she released the single Bad Little Thing; which she also opened with for the Miss Universe 2021, which was held in Eilat. On January 12, 2022, she released the single Thought About That. On March 22, she released the single Pa'Amon, which was played in the fifth episode of the second season in the American series Ginny & Georgia on Netflix.

On May 27, 2022, she released the single DALE PROMO along with Spanish singer Metro the Savage featuring Dutch-Israeli musician Boaz van de Beatz. On July 21, she released the single BaDerech Elaich with Eliad Nachum and Doli & Penn as part of the soundtrack to the film Ohev Otcha Charlie. On August 12, she released the single Pantera. After this single, more singles were released after the announcement as a Eurovision contestant, among them: a remake together with Svika Pick for the song Harakdan HaAutomati, Mami with Odeya, another international single called Gone.

On June 6, 2023, Kirel released the song "Provocativit" in honor of Pride Month with the participation of the gay party line "Forever Tel Aviv".

On November 19, 2023, she released a special version of her Eurovision entry, "Unicorn (Hope Version)" which addresses the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

On July 10, 2024, Mako announced that Noa Kirel and Atlantic Records parted ways.

Eurovision Song Contest 2023
On July 11, 2022, she was chosen by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The following day, Kirel stated that she had not decided yet, and would make a decision later on. On August 10, she confirmed that she would compete at Eurovision.

Kirel's song for Eurovision, "Unicorn", was released on 8 March 2023. Besides performing the song, Kirel also co-wrote and co-composed it. Kirel performed in the first semi-final and qualified to the final. She placed third in the final, receiving the second highest number of votes from the professional jury.

Singles

 * Lead singles