It was a tough contest and a tight result, but pop artist Sheldon Riley has come out on top in the showdown to represent Australia at Eurovision 2022.

The singer was one of 11 acts to take the stage on the Gold Coast on Saturday night, with a winner decided by public SMS vote and an expert jury panel.

After performing his song, Not the Same, an emotional Riley said he is proud of everyone who follows their own path.

“Stand for what you believe in because we’re not the same and that’s OK,” he said.

Congratulations to @SheldRiley
The honour is all ours. #Eurovision #Ausdecides pic.twitter.com/vYRQUK8FxU

— SBS Eurovision (@SBSEurovision) February 26, 2022

Riley, who grew up on the Gold Coast, performed wearing a mask and accessories.

“Doing this and dressing this way in Australia isn’t always easy,” he said.

“I’m always unapologetically myself but to be in this space where everyone’s celebrating my difference, it’s incredible.”

The jury gave top points to Jaguar Jonze for her song Little Fires.

Among the other contenders were Fijian-Australian singer-songwriter Paulini, who performed We Are One.

“The song speaks for itself … ‘you can always show love and kindness,’ but it’s very different when you put it into a song and people can enjoy listening to it,” she said of the track.

“And the energy of the song that you create in people’s spirits is exactly what you want to do right now.”

https://twitter.com/GreenOscar94/status/1497211842527051782

Western Australia for the first time vied for the right to represent Australia, with electro progressive pop metal group Voyager, who performed Dreamer.

“I’d say Voyager is Duran Duran, but heavy,” group member Daniel Estrin said ahead of the performance.

Acts representing countries from across Europe and further afield will meet in Turin, Italy for a series of performances, with a winner decided by May 15, Australian time.

Earlier on Saturday Eurovision organisers said Russia will not compete in the 2022 event as a result of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s contest would bring the competition into disrepute,” the European Broadcasting Union said in a statement.

-with AAP