Conchita Wurst, the drag artist who won Eurovision for Austria in May, has just closed the Jean Paul Gaultier Paris couture show.
Wearing a black veil and gown, a sequined red scarf, long black gloves and medieval-style gold and red panelling for the gothic-style catwalk show, she walked down the candle-strewn runway with her trademark beard. Holding her hand, Jean Paul Gaultier grinned, simultaneously turning Conchita into a haute couture star far above any of the expectations placed upon a Eurovision winner, and borrowing from her powerful legacy – that of a drag artist who won a European competition in the face of mounting Russian homophobia.
At the time, Russian MPs complained about Conchita and the contest, but after her triumph, she declared, ‘This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are. We are unity, and we are unstoppable!’
Which totally fits into the prevalent theme of Gaultier’s designs – to basically be yourself and express yourself. We totally salute Conchita, especially when she goes goth. Now, how do we grow a beard?
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Picture: Getty
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.