Conchita Wurst returns to Eurovision with bold new look

The 2014 Eurovision Song Contest undoubtedly belonged to Thomas Neuwirth, performing under the pseudonym Conchita Wurst. The representative of Austria delighted the audience with her unique voice and unparalleled image. "The bearded lady," as she was called by the media worldwide, won the hearts of Europeans and secured first place in the contest. What happened to Conchita Wurst after this great success, and how has the singer's image changed?

Conchita Wurst remains active in the music scene and the drag queen world. During this year’s Eurovision final, she sang alongside Carola and Charlotte Perelli to perform Abba's song "Waterloo". Additionally, she often appears on social media without heavy makeup and long wigs. What does she look like without her stage alter ego?

During this year’s Eurovision in Malmö, Conchita Wurst mesmerised the audience again with her winning hit. This time, the artist appeared in a bolder, glam-rock style, choosing a black dress in the style of a leather coat, high lace-up boots, and long gloves.

The look was completed with a black wig featuring long bangs. Compared to the softer image from 2014, when Conchita opted for a golden gown and gentle waves, this year’s look was much more distinctive. However, the characteristic beard remained unchanged.

Although on a daily basis Thomas Neuwirth does not flaunt makeup and jewelry, during performances he eagerly experiments with his image. It is also worth mentioning that the idea for Conchita Wurst came about in 2011 during the artist’s travel in Colombia.

Adopting the persona of the "bearded lady," Neuwirth wanted to draw attention to issues of discrimination and intolerance, which he himself encountered. The "Wurst" part refers to the German saying "das ist mir Wurst," which means "it’s all the same to me."

"They said I couldn’t be a drag queen because I have a beard. And I asked why? I didn’t understand why, even in this community, I encountered pigeonholing. These people should be tolerant and open-minded. When I saw this opposition, I thought: I will keep the beard and try to convey something with it. Nobody has to love me, but they have to accept that I exist and I am here," Conchita confessed.

Currently, on the star's Instagram profile, there are photos not only from her performances but also from daily workouts, rehearsals, or trips. Recently, Thomas appeared with a trimmed beard and large prescription glasses. In this version, he looks completely different from his stage persona.