Austria’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, bearded drag artist Conchita Wurst has attracted controversy.

People in Russia, Belarus and Armenia and started petitions calling for the singer to be removed from the competition or edited out of the Eurovision broadcasts in their countries.

Aram MP3, Armenian Eurovision contender, reportedly said that Wurst’s lifestyle was “not natural” and she should decide to be a woman or man.

Wurst responded, saying ” “I told him I don’t want to be a woman. I am just a working queen and a very lazy boy at home.”

Aram MP3 has since stated his comments were intended as a joke.

Wurst’s entry, the power ballad “Rise Like a Phoenix” has been rumoured to be an expected favourite for this year’s top ten. The song is a defiant statement about defeating expectations.

Wurst says her look sends a very deliberate message.

“The beard is a statement to say that you can achieve anything, no matter who you are or how you look,” she told Reuters in an interview.

The 25 year old drag artist said that being a part of the Austria gay community wasn’t always easy.

“Being a teenager, a gay teenager, in such a small village is not that much fun. I am part of the gay community and most gays have a similar story to mine,” she said.