Bearded Austrian drag queen splits opinion ahead of first Eurovision performance with song Rise Like A Phoenix

She is yet to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final, but already bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst has found herself in the spotlight.

The alter ego of 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth has both shocked and won over audiences by challenging stereotypes of masculine and feminine beauty with her song Rise Like  A Phoenix.

The transvestite has also faced a barrage of homophobic and transphobic attacks from within her own country and from other countries including Russia, Armenia and Belarus, who branded the contest a 'hotbed of sodomy', the BBC has reported.

Challenging views: Bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst, pcitured during rehearsals, has found herself in the spotlight ahead of the EurovisionSong Contest semifinal

'I can only say thank you for your attention. If this is only about me and my person, I can live with it', Wurst said about her critics in emails with The Associated Press.
'You know, I have a very thick skin. It's just strange that a little facial hair causes that much excitement.'
Speaking ahead of the semifinal in Copenhagen on Thursday, she added: 'I have to add that 80 percent of the autograph requests that I get are from Russia and eastern Europe — and that's what is important to me'.

'Excitement': The alter ego of 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth has both shocked and won over audiences by challenging stereotypes with her song Rise like a Phoenix

The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the event, has not received any formal complaints from the participating broadcasters, spokesman Jarmo Siim said.

Neuwirth, who was born in Gmunden, central Austria, entered show business eight years ago, taking part in an Austrian TV talent show.

After joining a boy band that quickly broke up, Neuwirth first appeared as Wurst in another talent show in 2011. She has also taken part in two reality shows, including one where candidates had to survive in the Namibian desert with native tribes.

Backlash: The transvestite has also faced a barrage of homophobic and transphobic attacks from within her own country and from other countries including Russia, Armenia and Belarus

Thick skin: The drag queen was pictured partying with Tijana Dapcevic who is representing F.Y.R. Macedonia and Conchita during the show on Tuesday

As she prepared for her performance in Copenhagen, Wurst said she wasn't paying much attention to the controversy about her.
'Hey, I'm just a singer in a fabulous dress, with great hair and a beard,' she also told AP.

Contest watchers believe Wurst will advance from the second semifinal this week, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, Malta and Hungary's New York-born singer Andras Kallay-Saunders also considered strong contenders.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Danish capital on May 10.

UK hopeful Molly Smitten-Downes, who will perform Children of the Universe, is one of the big five acts who automatically qualifies for the final alongside France, Germany, Italy, Spain and host Denmark.