national icon Conchita Wurst She is unstoppable Conchita Wurst CV

1988 Born Tom Neuwirth in Gmunden, Austria 2002 Moved to Graz to attend high school often coupled with self-deprecation and a 2005 Moved to Vienna austria’s slight inferiority complex (blame a diffi- 2006 Took part in the talent cult history). Austria is also a place where show Starmania 2007 Founded short-lived new face people with otherwise conservative values boy band Jetzt Anders! can accept or even embrace the offbeat I’m an Austrian and I’m 2011 Drag persona Conchita — Vienna and over-the-top – think Falco and Arnold Wurst first appears as Schwarzenegger – and where a person can a national singer but I’m the host of a Vienna Preface have both lederhosen and skintight black- definitely not an icon. Cher burlesque show Since winning the 2014 Tt 50 2011 Wins second place on Eurovision Song Contest, leather pants inTt their50 closet. is an icon, or Tina Turner Die Grosse Chance, Conchita Wurst has So it’s not such a stretch to find another talent show become a global star. Yet that Austria is proud of this charismatic 2012 Wurst earns second despite her new-found bearded “lady” (in real life, by the way, place in the Austrian acclaim she refuses to the beard is impeccably groomed if a auditions for Eurovision accept iconic status – and 2013 Selected by ORF, the is never happier than when little less black than on screen). But Wurst national broadcaster, she’s in her own capital city. remains modest: “Many people would The Eurovision win catapulted Wurst into as Austria’s entry to say that I changed the image of how other the public eye. More than a year later she’s the following year’s writer people see Austria now. My reaction? I still omnipresent: her face beams from Eurovision Song Kimberly Bradley don’t think so. I did nothing but be true to newsstands and ads, she was the host of Tt 50 Contest 2014 Wurst wins Eurovision photographer who I am, singing my heart out.” the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest’s green with “Rise Like a Andreas Jakwerth What Wurst cannot deny is that her room and was a headliner at this year’s Phoenix” look, her fiery rendition of “Rise Like Life Ball (one of the biggest aids char- 2015 Debut album Conchita Her countrymen dubbed her the “Queen a Phoenix” and the rallying cry of “We ity events in the world, which takes place shoots to the number- of Austria”. She has sung at the Vienna are unstoppable!” as she accepted the annually in Vienna city hall). Meanwhile, one spot in Austria State Opera, performed for the European Eurovision trophy have changed the con- tracks from her eponymous debut album Parliament and appeared as part of a versation in the Austrian and European echo through the valleys. Unabashedly Bank Austria advertising campaign. mainstream about gender tolerance and pop but with a surprisingly wide range, Dubbing her a cultural icon, the UN acceptance, as well as lgbt rights and the the album appeared in mid-May and secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon praised politics behind them. quickly hit number one in Austria, going her message of tolerance of diversity. Her Wurst grew up as Neuwirth in Bad platinum in less than two weeks. wax figure stands in the Vienna branch of Mitterndorf, an idyllic mountain town of For all the offers and invitations to inter- Madame Tussauds. But Conchita Wurst, 3,000 in the Styrian Salzkammergut. “I was national music, fashion, media and pride the glamorous bearded winner of the 2014 about six when I realised I might not be so events – which the wasp-waisted 26-year- Eurovision Song Contest, is utterly con- bad at singing,” says Wurst, explaining that old navigates without losing her head vinced that she’s not a national icon. Drag as a child she imitated Shirley Bassey and (she ignores “haters”, she says) – it seems queen, yes (Conchita is the stage persona otherwise idolised and emulated female there’s no place like home. Last autumn, of Thomas Neuwirth) but a symbol of singers such as Turner, Celine Dion and Bad Mitterndorf made Wurst an honorary her native land? No. later the Peruvian legend Yma Sumac. citizen, the mayor putting up a plaque on a “I’m an Austrian and I’m a national Although she knew early that she was gay, small bridge in honour of Wurst’s message singer but I’m definitely not an icon,” says she was 14 the first time she saw someone in of tolerance. (Her teary proclamation at her Wurst. “Cher is an icon, or Tina Turner. drag. “I didn’t realise you could be in drag Eurovision win? “This night is dedicated to If I get the chance to have a long, success- outside of Carnival,” says Wurst, laughing. everyone who believes in a future of peace ful career, at a certain age people might “I had a great time being a 14-year-old gay and freedom.”) She performed for people call me an icon but I’d still say, ‘No, no, boy doing drag twice a year.” she grew up with, sang for her grandmother no.’” How about ambassador or agent of At 17, Wurst dropped out of a fashion- and the town butcher even made a sausage change? No again. “There are so many oriented high school in Graz to move to in her honour: the “Conchita Wurst Wurst”. people doing outstanding things when it Vienna. She appeared on the singing-con- In Vienna she still works with a close posse comes to human rights,” she says. “I’m test television programme Starmania and a – her hairdresser is her best friend – and it just an artist who takes to the stage to friend later asked if she’d host a burlesque is here, in the Austrian capital, where she entertain – but I also give my opinion.” show. “Of course I’d host in drag,” says feels most at home. “Vienna is romantic,” Wurst’s coquettish modesty could be Wurst. “I was practising my make-up one she says, thinking for a while, then smiling. an example of the enduring – and often day, I hadn’t shaved and I thought, ‘I’ve “Vienna is dramatic.” endearing – contradictions that seem to never looked better.’” Letting the beard Romance and drama: essential ele- lie within many of her fellow Austrians. grow back each week didn’t make sense ments in the Austrian imagination and Talk to any Austrian about their country so it stayed, becoming a controversial but things that no self-respecting queen for long enough and pride emerges but it’s unique and effective signature. should ever be without. — (m)

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