Austria wins 2014 Eurovision Song Contest
Culture |
Austrian drag act wins this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which saw 26 countries represented in the final.
Conchita Wurst, a 25-year-old drag queen representing Austria, has won the 59th Eurovision Song Contest held in Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, Saturday. Wurst was awarded 290 points for her performance of song "Rise Like a Phoenix", 52 points clear of second place duo, the Common Linnets, representing The Netherlands. Sanne Nielsen from Sweden finished third with 218 points for her song "Undo".
"I really dream of a world where you don't have to talk about your sexuality. Tonight we really showed that we are all part of the same family, not of separate communities. I know it sounds cheesy, but we are one!" a teary-eyed Wurst told a press conference after the show.
This is not the first time a transsexual artist has won the Eurovision Song Contest, Dana International, representing Israel, won 16 years ago.
Politics as always played its part in the show, but amid tensions over Ukraine, Saturday's finals saw audience members booing during the results for points awarded to Russia act The Tolmachevy Sisters including when Azerbaijan awarded 12 points to Russia and 10 points to Ukraine. Russia awarded its highest points to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.
Turkey, however, did not attend in protest to a regulation in the scoring system.
"I really dream of a world where you don't have to talk about your sexuality. Tonight we really showed that we are all part of the same family, not of separate communities. I know it sounds cheesy, but we are one!" a teary-eyed Wurst told a press conference after the show.
This is not the first time a transsexual artist has won the Eurovision Song Contest, Dana International, representing Israel, won 16 years ago.
Politics as always played its part in the show, but amid tensions over Ukraine, Saturday's finals saw audience members booing during the results for points awarded to Russia act The Tolmachevy Sisters including when Azerbaijan awarded 12 points to Russia and 10 points to Ukraine. Russia awarded its highest points to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.
Turkey, however, did not attend in protest to a regulation in the scoring system.
