Conchita Wurst is coming back to Eurovision, but not how you think
Drag diva Conchita Wurst is to make a triumphant return to the Eurovision Song Contest – but maybe not how people expected.
The Austrian pop diva took home the crown this year, to the dismay of some conservative countries. The next contest is set to be held in Vienna in May 2015.
It has been announced this week that Conchita Wurst will make a return to the contest in Vienna – as a presenter. The singer was confirmed as host for the Green Room segment of the show, interviewing the current acts.
She will be joined by an all-female presenting team, with Mirjam Weichselbraun, Alice Tumler and Arabella Kiesbauer taking up the main hosting roles during the event.
The drag star is also expected to reprise her previous winner’s song, Rise Like a Phoenix, during the Grand Final, as is tradition for Eurovision.
Kathrin Zechner of broadcaster ORF said: “[Conchita] won the contest with her personality, voice and song for Austria.
“She did not take the first but the most powerful Austrian step in the fight for self-determination and respect in Europe and the world.
“The slogan of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna is Building Bridges which stands for bridges between countries, age groups, tradition and contemporary supported by the pillars of respect and self-determination.
“For me it is important to make these powerful, society-shaping women visible to an audience of some 200 million Europeans in a show Austria can be proud of. Mirjam Weichselbraun, Alice Tumler and Arabella Kiesbauer are strong, modern young women and in particular, triple-A professionals.”
Wurst performed a set in early October at the European Parliament in Brussels, and the same month performed at the United Nations – where she met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
Following her victory, Russia developed plans to revive a Soviet era Eurovision rival as a ‘family friendly’ alternative, but the idea was quietly dropped this summer.
