It's easy to say, 'This is just a joke.' You know, the bearded lady? And I feel the need to smash it with every performance just because I want to be clear this is not a joke.

I'm not the biggest fan of my first album.

It's my music. If it's not good enough, then that's how it will be.

One year, my parents hired someone in the village to dress up as Krampus for a surprise visit to our home - and they regretted it for ever. I went to the door and this huge creature was standing there. I think I passed out.

I like to party at Christmas. We always have a duck, which my brother prepares.

Kids go crazy for the Krampus tradition and dress up as little monsters - they have beautiful masks, handmade from wood. Our village in Austria puts on a special play in which the creature tells an old beggar to repent his sins; when he refuses, he's beaten up by lots of Krampuses at once.

The most important thing will be when we actually stop talking about sexual orientation. The moment we reach that point when that is not important any more, we've reached a big goal which is a long way in front of us.

Eurovision is this bubble of inclusivity and respect, and it's so beautiful, if only the whole world would be in this bubble. It is a family that will never forget about you.

My goal is a Grammy so my songs will have to be good.

I don't see myself as a political figure.

As Conchita, I've got everything that I need to be glamourous and in the spotlight, giving interviews, doing photo shoots. And on the other side, there's Tom, this shy, boring boy. And I love to be shy and boring when I'm in private.

My biggest inspiration in 'fashion is definitely Miss Victoria Beckham.

I want to show the world that if you want to be a bearded lady you are allowed to do it without being discriminated against.

From Vienna with Love' will build a bridge across the globe from Vienna to Sydney, full of music, love and fun. I am really looking forward to performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and fabulous guest artists who all have ties to Vienna and telling a story with music that inspired me and songs from my debut album.

I grew up in a small Austrian village, a quite conservative one, and I was the weird little boy always dressing as a girl.

I'd done drag since I was 14, for special occasions, and in 2010 a friend of mine with her own burlesque group was looking for a host. During a party I was just fooling around, taking the microphone, saying stupid, funny things, and she asked me afterward if I wanted to host her burlesque show every Saturday.

Once I decided to be a different person on stage, I got the chance to be larger than life and over the top, which I love.

I decided to be this bearded lady in 2011.

I got an invitation to speak in the European parliament and I met Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the U.N. I took those opportunities to talk about what I thought was right. That those people, who are more important and powerful than I am, think I'm relevant enough to give a speech is mind-blowing.

I'm just a singer in a fabulous dress, with great hair and a beard.

It's strange that a little facial hair causes that much excitement.

Be the best version of yourself rather than a bad copy of someone else!

The whole process of telling my story to my ghostwriter was so intense, after all, because he would ask me questions that no journalist would ask me. Things like, 'How did it smell at your grandmother's house?'

I would prefer a society where we don't have to explain ourselves. But I get that many people just need those labels to understand it. And if I make my situation or beliefs more understandable by putting labels on it, I'm happy to do it.

I mean, I would love to see the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, dressing up in a more cosy way, if she feels like doing it.

I don't think I have the power to change anybody.

I find it hard to believe when people tell me I inspired them in any kind of way because I think to myself, 'well, why?' It's just me - not Madonna.

I have many fans in Russia.

But I would not refuse a meeting with Putin. I would like to spend a week with Putin, so that I could better understand him.

I always say that my biggest goal is a Grammy, and on the way there I will grab everything that is given.

Maybe I'll never get the Grammy. But maybe I will get things that are worth much, much more than any Grammy which could stand on my shelf.

You can't reduce a country to its tolerance or intolerance.

You know, I have a very thick skin.

It's obvious for example that when I am Conchita, I use the female toilet, and when I am Tom, the male toilet. I can assure you it's never a problem for women, they love it.

When not dressed as Conchita I am a man, and a lazy one at that.

It was shortly before my 18th birthday when I came out and admitted that I was gay.

If you are prepared to admit to others and to yourself who you really are, then you can have a fantastic life. Of course, you need to have a thick skin to get through it all.

I took to the Eurovision stage as an opportunity to talk to Europe about tolerance and acceptance.

I'm not a politician, only a singer.

I would love to have the whole world involved and still call it Eurovision.

I'm aware of this bearded lady being something that is not really common.

It is wonderful but kind of surreal when people turn to me and say they see some kind of an inspiration.

It is truly unbelievable to actually really know that I have fans all around the world.

Winning the Eurovision contest is just a door opener, this is not that you're set for life. Definitely not, don't mistake that, because you really have to work your behind off to sustain in this business.

I am sorry to disappoint you, I'll never compete ever again at the Eurovision.

I have so many incredible fans in Russia, I really badly want to go there.

Seriously I just don't get why straight people are so afraid of the fact that gay people can get married.