diff --git a/cliff-releases.toml b/cliff-releases.toml
index a516c7b5f..ddef786ee 100644
--- a/cliff-releases.toml
+++ b/cliff-releases.toml
@@ -61,12 +61,14 @@ body = """
   ## New Contributors ❤️
 {% endif %}\
 {% for contributor in github.contributors | filter(attribute="is_first_time", value=true) %}
-  * [@{{ contributor.username }}](https://github.com/{{ contributor.username }}) made their first contribution
+  * @{{ contributor.username }} made their first contribution
     {%- if contributor.pr_number %} in \
       [#{{ contributor.pr_number }}]({{ self::remote_url() }}/pull/{{ contributor.pr_number }}) \
     {%- endif %}
 {%- endfor -%}
 {%- endif %}
+
+
 """
 # template for the changelog footer
 footer = """