Who is Erika Vikman? Meet Finland’s Eurovision 2025 representative

On February 8th, 2025, the grand final of Finland’s national selection, UMK 2025, took place, where Erika Vikmanwas already considered the big favorite to win. The international jury ranked her second with 68 points, but the public vote pushed her to the top with a massive 362 points from the televote, securing her victory.

As a result, Erika Vikman will fly the Finnish flag at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with her entry “ICH KOMME”. Currently, she is one of the bookmakers’ favorites, consistently ranking in the Top 6, making her a strong contender for the Eurovision crown.

Who is Erika Vikman?

Erika Vikman is a Finnish singer and songwriter born in Tampere, Finland — the same city where the iconic Nokia Arena, home of UMK, is located. Throughout her life, she has also lived in other Finnish cities such as Lempäälä and Pori. Erika graduated from Tampere High School in 2013 and later studied pop-jazz at the Pirkanmaa Music Institute.

She has quickly risen to fame as one of Finland’s brightest pop stars.

From a young age, Erika was active in the entertainment world, performing in summer theatres and various TV shows. Her big breakthrough came in 2016, when she was crowned “Tango Queen” after winning Tangomarkkinat, Finland’s oldest tango festival.

Her journey through talent shows and music competitions

Long before her 2016 triumph, Erika had already made a name for herself in competitions. In 2008, she won the Junior Tango competition in the female category. By 2009, she starred as Iira Ström in the TV series Parasta aika on Yle TV2.

In 2010, she participated in the singing contest Ponnahduslauta and also competed in Trampolín in Tampere. In 2011, she was part of the winning team on STAGE TV, later starring in the musical Silmistä Pois.

Her popularity continued growing in 2013, when she entered Idols Finland, finishing seventh place after being eliminated and later brought back as a wildcard. Fun fact: her sister, Jennika Vikman, also competed in Idols.

In 2015, Erika finished as “Tango Princess” in Tangomarkkinat, before finally clinching the crown as “Tango Queen”in 2016. Interestingly, her mother also competed in the same tango contest, reaching the semifinals.

In 2017, Erika joined the fourth season of Tähdet, tähdet, a popular Finnish celebrity music show. That same year, after signing with Sony Music, she released her debut single “Ettei mee elämä hukkaan”.

Her rise to fame and UMK 2020

In 2019, Erika signed a record deal with Warner Music and Mökkitie Records. Her first shot at UMK came in 2020, with the provocative “Cicciolina”, a song inspired by Italian-Hungarian ex-politician, singer, and adult film star Ilona Staller (Cicciolina).

Although Erika won the televote, she finished second overall after the jury placed her third. Nonetheless, “Cicciolina” became a massive hit in Finland, reaching the country’s Top 5 singles and earning her widespread acclaim.

She followed up with “Synsten pöytä”, her first radio No. 1 hit, consolidating her place as a Finnish pop icon.

In 2020, Erika also took part in The Masked Singer Finland, finishing third as “The Wasp”. By August 2021, she released her self-titled debut album, Erika Vikman, which topped the Finnish charts. She also performed at UMK 2021’s opening show alongside Antti Tuisku.

In 2022, Erika joined season 13 of Vain elämää (the Finnish version of The Best Singers). A year later, she shared the stage with Käärijä for an unforgettable interval act at UMK 2024, performing their joint song “Ruoska”.

Erika’s music resonates with both urban and rural audiences, delivering a universal message:

“People should be loved for who they are. When someone can truly be themselves, they are freer and happier.”

About “ICH KOMME”: Erika Vikman’s Eurovision 2025 song

Although Erika initially thought she wouldn’t compete again at UMK, in 2025 she made a triumphant return with “ICH KOMME”, ultimately winning the ticket to represent Finland at Eurovision 2025.

The idea to compete again was born during recording sessions for her upcoming album with Chisu and Jori Roosberg. Erika explains:

“I asked Chisu and Jori to write me a song in verse style. They immediately asked: ‘Do you want to go to Eurovision?’ And that’s how it all began.”

The song was written and produced by Christel Roosberg and Jori Roosberg (Roos+Berg), and released via Warner Music Finland and Mökkitie Records on January 17th, 2025. The title “ICH KOMME” is German for “I’m coming”, while the rest of the lyrics are in Finnish.

Musically, it blends traditional disco with Finnish electronic music. Lyrically, it explores themes of pleasure, ecstasy, and trance, structured to mirror the sensations of sexual climax.

“ICH KOMME” Lyrics (Original & English Translation)

Before we dive into the lyrics, it’s worth noting that “ICH KOMME” combines German and Finnish, creating a unique, sensual narrative that’s bound to captivate both casual and hardcore Eurovision fans. Here’s a side-by-side look at the lyrics in Finnish and their English translation:

Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest

Finland debuted at Eurovision in 1961, with 58 total appearances. Their sole victory came in 2006, when Lordi rocked Europe with “Hard Rock Hallelujah”.

Despite several finals appearances, Finland has had a mixed Eurovision journey, with only two Top 5 finishes: Lordi’s win and Käärijä’s second place in 2023 with “Cha Cha Cha”. They’ve also secured sixth place twice, with Blind Channel (2021) and Marion Rung (1973).

Though sometimes finishing low on the scoreboard, Finland’s Eurovision win sparked massive celebrations in Helsinki, with fans flooding the streets, waving flags, and blasting music in joy.

In 2024, Windows95Man and Henri Piispanen brought “No Rules” to the Eurovision final, finishing 19th with 38 points.