Performing during the show in position 14, "Mata Hari" was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final on 22 May.

Between 2011 and 2013, Azerbaijan organized a national final titled Milli Seçim Turu to select the performer, song or both for Eurovision.

In 2014, the broadcaster utilised an existing talent show format titled Böyük Səhnə where the winning performer would subsequently be given an internally selected song.

On 20 March 2020, the broadcaster confirmed that Efendi would remain as Azerbaijan's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

[3][4] Six potential songs were shortlisted from 229 submissions from local and international songwriters and revealed by INFE Azerbaijan on 9 February 2021: "Breathing You", "Manifesto", "Mata Hari", "Owe You Pretty", "Ratata" and "When I'm Gone".

The selection of the song was based on the decision of İTV and an international group of more than 50 music industry experts and Eurovision fans.

[10] It is very important to talk about strong women in order to remind our beautiful ladies that despite the fact that we still live in a world full of prejudices, a woman can do anything and female power cannot be compared with anything.

And if suddenly you do not have enough inspiration now, let the stories of strong women in history become the source of that very charge of energy with which you can cope with everything and achieve even bigger success.

There is a queen in each of us and I want to remind you that it's time to release her.According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final.

[18] The four dancers that joined Efendi on stage were Adelina Deli, Alina Lee, Sasha Golosnichenco and Veronika Volosova.

The judges assess each entry based on the performances during the second Dress Rehearsal of each show, which takes place the night before each live show, against a set of criteria including: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.

[21] Jury members may only take part in panel once every three years, and are obliged to confirm that they are not connected to any of the participating acts in a way that would impact their ability to vote impartially.