![]() What Wurst cannot deny is that her look, her fiery rendition of “Rise Like a Phoenix” and the rallying cry of “We are unstoppable!” as she accepted the Eurovision trophy have changed the conversation in the Austrian and European mainstream about gender tolerance and acceptance, as well as LGBT rights and the politics behind them. I did nothing but be true to who I am, singing my heart out.” But Wurst remains modest: “Many people would say that I changed the image of how other people see Austria now. So it’s not such a stretch to find that Austria is proud of this charismatic bearded “lady” (in real life, by the way, the beard is impeccably groomed if a little less black than on screen). Austria is also a place where people with otherwise conservative values can accept or even embrace the offbeat and over-the-top – think Falco and Arnold Schwarzenegger – and where a person can have both lederhosen and skintight black-leather pants in their closet. Talk to any Austrian about their country for long enough and pride emerges but it’s often coupled with self-deprecation and a slight inferiority complex (blame a difficult history). Wurst’s coquettish modesty could be an example of the enduring – and often endearing – contradictions that seem to lie within many of her fellow Austrians. “I’m just an artist who takes to the stage to entertain – but I also give my opinion.” “There are so many people doing outstanding things when it comes to human rights,” she says. If I get the chance to have a long, successful career, at a certain age people might call me an icon but I’d still say, ‘No, no, no.’” How about ambassador or agent of change? No again. “I’m an Austrian and I’m a national singer but I’m definitely not an icon,” says Wurst. Drag queen, yes (Conchita is the stage persona of Thomas Neuwirth) but a symbol of her native land? No. But Conchita Wurst, the glamorous bearded winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, is utterly convinced that she’s not a national icon. Her wax figure stands in the Vienna branch of Madame Tussauds. Dubbing her a cultural icon, the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon praised her message of tolerance of diversity. She has sung at the Vienna State Opera, performed for the European Parliament and appeared as part of a Bank Austria advertising campaign. Her countrymen dubbed her the “Queen of Austria”. By Kimberly Bradley Photography Andreas Jakwerth
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