What. A. Family (Picture: EPA/GETTY)

Greta Thunberg is becoming an icon in the fight against climate change.

At the age of just 16, the activist has spearheaded a global school strike movement, been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and is speaking to governments worldwide to tackle climate change.

And 10 years ago, Greta’s mother was also on a global stage – albeit a very different one.

It turns out that Greta’s mum is Eurovision star Malena Ernman, who represented Sweden in 2009 with the bonkers bop La voix.


Malena, 48, is a trained opera singer and represented Sweden in Moscow with the uber-catchy La voix, which mixed French lyrics with English and which we still rank as a highlight.



Sadly, Europe didn’t think so, with Sweden coming in 21st place with just 33 points – 354 points less than record-breaking winner Alexander Rybak, who gained a victory for Norway with Fairytale.

Now, we think Greta’s Eurovision connection – especially a Swedish Eurovision connection – is rather cool, but apparently, it’s a bad thing, as claimed on social media.

An article from Guido Fawkes claimed that Greta having a mum that performed in the Eurovision final 10 years ago was a sign of the teenager’s privilege, writing: ‘Who could have guessed that yet another climate activist comes from an incredibly privileged background…’

Columnist Toby Young shared on the article with the tweet: ‘Greta Thunberg Is Privileged Daughter of Sweden’s Eurovision Star.’

However, those hoping to perhaps discredit Greta trying to save the icecaps and the one million species at risk of extinction may have had the opposite effect, as everyone’s just finding the Eurovision connection rather cool, and are also rediscovering what a tune La voix is.

As one tweet read: ‘Look. It’s Sweden. Doing Eurovision is your civic duty, as is campaigning for a better world.’

For the record, Malena is also a climate activist, having actively supported the Paris agreement against climate change and promising her daughter that she will go vegan and stop using air travel.

Environmentally friendly and a Swedish Eurovision legend? We stan.

Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Britney Spears’s ex manager denies writing ‘fake emails’, says she was forced to make videos

MORE: Ghetts feels ‘responsible’ for exposing colourism against black women as Black Rose earns Ivor Novello nod