Eurovision Song Contest's bearded lady Conchita Wurst hits back

Austria's bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst has hogged the limelight ahead of tomorrow's Eurovision Song Contest final.

But things have become a little hairy for her among socially conservative Europeans and even gay rights campaigners.

Wurst, the drag persona of 25-year-old Austrian singer Tom Neuwirth, said in Copenhagen: "I created this bearded lady to show the world that you can do whatever you want. If you're not hurting anyone you can do whatever you like with your life."

Wurst's ballad Rise Like A Phoenix was widely expected to make it through yesterday's semi-final in the Danish capital, but few pundits believe she will take the Eurovision crown.

However, comments by Armenian Eurovision hopeful Aram MP3 - one of the bookies' favourites - that Wurst's lifestyle was "not natural" have boosted her profile, even though the stand-up comedian later claimed his comments were a joke.

"He apologised by saying his comments were a joke and badly translated," Wurst said. "I have to say that if it's a joke it's not funny ... but he apologised and that's fine for me," she added.

There have also been petitions to have her removed from the competition in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, where a law banning "gay propaganda" was signed by President Vladimir Putin last year.