Premium Content:

Meet Conchita Wurst: Drag Artist and Austria's Eurovision Entry

Conchita-Wurst

Austria’s entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen has been getting plenty of press attention.

- Advertisement -

At a press conference on the 18th of March, the Austrian broadcaster revealed the country’s chosen song: a power ballad sung by a bearded drag queen.

The singer in question first rose to fame under the name Tom Neuwirth through televised Austrian talent show ‘Starmania’ in 2006. Neuwirth unveiled his drag persona Conchita Wurst in 2011.

According to the Austrian Times, Neuwirth wanted to make a statement about gender and discrimination by creating a female character with a beard.

Conchita Wurst came second place in the 2012 preselection for the Eurovision song contest, and is the country’s official selection this time around.

Wurst’s performance of the dramatic power balled ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ is giving the nation hope for reaching the finals for the first time since 2011.

Take a look at Wurst’s glorious performance below, complete with a wind machine and bathtub full of rose petals.

And while we’re at it let’s take a retrospective on drag acts in Eurovision with Ukraine’s very own Verka Serduchka!

Drag and Eurovision. Has there ever been a more perfect combination?

Latest

G Flip shares more music from their upcoming album

'In Another Life' is the third single from 'Dream Ride' out this September.

Bangarra Dance Theatre bring their stunning ‘Illume’ to Perth

Illume is playing at the Health Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre until 13th July before heading to the Albany Entertainment Centre on 18th July.

On This Gay Day | Britain repealed the controversial 'Section 28' laws

The laws were brought in by the Thatcher government in 1988.

Government urged to consider combatting LGBTIQA+ hate in school curriculum

Education Minister Jason Clare is tackling antisemitism, but what about homophobia?

Newsletter

Don't miss

G Flip shares more music from their upcoming album

'In Another Life' is the third single from 'Dream Ride' out this September.

Bangarra Dance Theatre bring their stunning ‘Illume’ to Perth

Illume is playing at the Health Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre until 13th July before heading to the Albany Entertainment Centre on 18th July.

On This Gay Day | Britain repealed the controversial 'Section 28' laws

The laws were brought in by the Thatcher government in 1988.

Government urged to consider combatting LGBTIQA+ hate in school curriculum

Education Minister Jason Clare is tackling antisemitism, but what about homophobia?

On This Gay Day | Neil Tennant is celebrating his birthday

See what else happened on this day in history.

G Flip shares more music from their upcoming album

'In Another Life' is the third single from 'Dream Ride' out this September.

Bangarra Dance Theatre bring their stunning ‘Illume’ to Perth

Illume is playing at the Health Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre until 13th July before heading to the Albany Entertainment Centre on 18th July.

On This Gay Day | Britain repealed the controversial 'Section 28' laws

The laws were brought in by the Thatcher government in 1988.