The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicked off the festivities this weekend.
And among the performers arriving on Australia’s shores was legendary drag queen Conchita Wurst.
The Austrian superstar, real name Thomas Neuwirth, performed at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day on Sunday night.
The 34-year-old sported her usual androgynous look, with a thick beard and boyish backwards cap paired with a dress.
The performer opted for a slip style gown with thin straps and a racy thigh-high split showing off her legs, which were clad in fishnets and chunky combat boots.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicked off the festivities this weekend. Among the performers arriving on Australia’s shores was legendary drag queen Conchita Wurst (pictured)
Conchita finished the ensemble with a number of studded leather bracelets and a decorative nose ring.
She also wore glamorous makeup including a smokey eye look with a retro cats eye liner in deep black.
The singer rose to fame winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 as Austria’s entrant with the song Rise Like a Phoenix.
The success marked Austria’s first victory in the show since 1966.
Last year, Conchita revealed how her Eurovision win paved the way for people all around the world just like her.
The Austrian superstar, real name Thomas Neuwirth, performed at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day on Sunday night
The 34-year-old sported her usual androgynous look, with a thick beard and boyish backwards cap paired with a dress
The performer opted for a slip style gown with thin straps and a racy thigh-high split showing off her legs, which were clad in fishnets and chunky combat boots
Conchita finished the ensemble with a number of studded leather bracelets and a decorative nose ring
She also wore glamorous makeup including a smokey eye look with a retro cats eye liner in deep black
Speaking at a Booking.com event, she explained how her victory ‘forced’ a global conversation about gender.
‘I kind of feel that they were forced, especially in Austria, they had to think about what is masculine and what is feminine. Whether they wanted to think about it or not. And this truly came to an acceptance,’ she said.
‘Back then in 2014, there were so many queer people getting into the mainstream, with Ru Paul’s Drag Race, with Laverne Cox, and Caitlyn Jenner, even though we cancelled her,’ she added with a laugh.
‘My winning was really impactful and transformed into what it is today – the youth today are so confident. I get insecure when I talk to an 18-year-old! And I love it. I love that kind of progress.’
Conchita also touched on how soaring to international success affected her personally.
The singer rose to fame winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 as Austria’s entrant with the song Rise Like a Phoenix
The success marked Austria’s first victory in the show since 1966
Last year, Conchita revealed how her Eurovision win paved the way for people all around the world just like her
She explained how her victory ‘forced’ a global conversation about gender
‘I kind of feel that they were forced, especially in Austria, they had to think about what is masculine and what is feminine. And this truly came to an acceptance,’ she said
‘My life completely changed. Suddenly you have people listening to you. You find yourself at a table where you were never invited,’ she said.
‘My career music wise, I worked with so many wonderful people. That is something I truly treasure and I am very thankful. Once you are member of the Eurovision family, they never let go of you.’
Despite winning in full drag as Conchita, in 2017 the performer told Germany’s Die Welt: ‘I feel like I want to create a new persona… with the bearded lady, I have achieved everything I wanted since the Song Contest victory.
‘I question myself more than ever these days, looking for what I can do well. I am looking for myself, and Tom rebels. I don’t need her anymore… I have to kill her.’
‘My life completely changed. Suddenly you have people listening to you. You find yourself at a table where you were never invited,’ Conchita added
