I love huge dramatic songs with ridiculously big orchestral parts.

I didn't invent the bearded lady. It's been around for ages, and there are so many bearded drag queens out there - but they're not in the mainstream as I am.

Over the years I've realised that there's nothing wrong with me. But there was a long way for me to go to get back to this loud and outgoing kid, and to get to the point where I could say, 'Yeah, I'm gay, so what?'

I am not a team player. I will not share the stage with anyone.

I have a very busy life, and I love meeting people, but I also like to be alone.

If people really want to know whether I am a woman or transsexual, I take it as a compliment. It means I'm doing my job well.

Being a teenager, a gay teenager, in such a small village is not that much fun. I am part of the gay community and most gays have a similar story to mine.

We Europeans really have the picture of this very open-minded Australia.

I can always spot an Australian queen by her high, high end wig. Australian drag queens have the best hair in the world - the best.

It is an honour and it's flattering that people refer to me as someone they trust or get inspired from.

I don't see myself as someone you should look up to.

I love myself and the bearded lady is fun and expresses everything I feel.

Being a teenager in a small Austrian village was not fabulous. I tried to fit in and changed myself to be part of the game. I now realise I can create the game.

I don't focus on negativity, I focus on the good things.

I love women. I grab every inspiration I can from women and for me it's a bit of fun.

I prefer to do my own make-up.

Dressing as a woman meant I began to accept my body, and I enjoyed seeing women get jealous. They ask me how I get my waist this size; how I manage to walk in heels as if I've done it all my life.

When I'm standing in front of all those lawmakers in the European Parliament, then I'm a speaker, when I'm singing, I'm a singer. If I'm on the catwalk, then I'm being a model. That can all happen in one week or even on the same day.

Because of the discrimination during my time as a teenager I decided to live my life as I want it.

I always say that tolerance doesn't depend on a country, because there is hate everywhere.

But yes, I really feel great in Austria, I love my home and Vienna is just the best place to be.

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.