London ( CNN ) -- One of the perennial criticisms of Eurovision is that , for a song contest , the compositions are seldom very memorable . But for the millions who tune in each year , drawn to the promise of outrageous outfits and performances , the contest is as much about spectacle as it is about the music . For diehard fans , what an artist wears can be a bigger talking point than what they sing . The more misguided an outfit , the better . In 1997 , fan website House of Eurovision founded the `` Barbara Dex Awards , '' an annual prize for the worst dressed artist . The award was named after a Belgian singer who appeared in the 1993 competition wearing an unflattering homemade dress . Melodifestivalen : Sweden 's not-so-guilty Eurovision pleasure . `` Her song was n't at all bad , but her performance was overshadowed by that awful self-made dress , and as a result she ended up last , '' said Edwin van Thillo , who runs the fan site . Attention-grabbing outfits have always been part of Eurovision 's DNA . Germany 's 1958 entry Margot Hielscher performed wearing a sash saying `` Miss Jukebox , '' and brandishing vinyl records at the audience . But the past 15 years have seen the costumes reach new heights of flamboyance . `` Visuals have become so much more important since televoting was introduced in 1998 , '' said Sam Broderick , a writer for ESC Nation , one of the most popular Eurovision fan websites . `` Acts only have three minutes to get their song heard and their message across , and they have to compete against 25 other songs to be remembered , '' he said . `` I think that 's why so many acts have gimmicks on stage -- and an outrageous costume is just another gimmick . It 's all part of the glitz and the glamor of the contest too , and I think that 's why people love Eurovision . '' But dressing up as a bird , butterfly or robot does n't guarantee success . Many of the acts featured in our gallery finished near the bottom of the table , or failed to progress past the semi-finals . `` A terrible outfit can destroy any chances a song may have had , '' said Broderick . `` I remember watching rehearsals in Oslo in 2010 when the Maltese entrant Thea Garrett came on stage with her backing dancer dressed as a massive bird . The whole press center was in howls of laughter , '' he said . `` It was quite highly regarded before then , but I really think that big bird put paid to the song 's chances . ''
Eurovision outfits have become more flamboyant since the advent of televoting . The `` Barbara Dex Award '' is an annual prize made by a fan site to the worst dressed artist . The award is named for Belgium 's 1993 entry who performed in a homemade dress . The first unorthodox outfit was worn in 1958 by Margot `` Miss Jukebox `` Hielscher .