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

WA Reflections: Local drag history among newly-funded documentaries

Screenwest has announced funding for four new documentaries shining a light on local Western Australian history and celebrating our diversity.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ teases genre-bending third season

Paramount+ has released a teaser for the upcoming third season of its hit original series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Albanese v Dutton: ABC to host leaders debate ahead of federal election

Public broadcaster ABC have announced they will host the first free-to-air leaders debate ahead of May's federal election.

On This Gay Day | Sir Peter Pears passed away in 1986

Opera singer Peter Pears passed away on this day in 1986, aged 75.

Newsletter

Don't miss

WA Reflections: Local drag history among newly-funded documentaries

Screenwest has announced funding for four new documentaries shining a light on local Western Australian history and celebrating our diversity.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ teases genre-bending third season

Paramount+ has released a teaser for the upcoming third season of its hit original series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Albanese v Dutton: ABC to host leaders debate ahead of federal election

Public broadcaster ABC have announced they will host the first free-to-air leaders debate ahead of May's federal election.

On This Gay Day | Sir Peter Pears passed away in 1986

Opera singer Peter Pears passed away on this day in 1986, aged 75.

Former WA Governor Malcolm McCusker to lead inquiry into election

Premier Roger Cook said today that there was no question over who won each seat at the election.

WA Reflections: Local drag history among newly-funded documentaries

Screenwest has announced funding for four new documentaries shining a light on local Western Australian history and celebrating our diversity.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ teases genre-bending third season

Paramount+ has released a teaser for the upcoming third season of its hit original series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Albanese v Dutton: ABC to host leaders debate ahead of federal election

Public broadcaster ABC have announced they will host the first free-to-air leaders debate ahead of May's federal election.