Yahoo Lifestyle Conchita Makes Couture Runway Debut
Conchita walks the runway at the Jean Paul Gaultier show.
Eurovision contestant Conchita Wurst made a surprise appearance on the Jean Paul Gaultier runway overnight.
Nicknamed 'the bearded lady' by fans, Wurst is the alter ego of 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth, who nabbed this year's Eurovision title thanks to her rendition of power ballad 'Rise Like a Phoenix'.
The star did just that at the Jean Paul Gaultier couture show, where she strutted her stuff in an array of signature headpieces and cloaked gowns.
Gaultier joined her on the runway towards the end, where he made a mock proposal to the young 'bride'.
"I met Conchita two years ago she came to one of my couture shows," Gaultier told The Independent post-show. "I loved her look and when I heard that she will represent Austria for the Eurovision Song Contest, I was delighted. When she won I was crazy with joy.
"I always say that beauty is difference and Conchita has shown us all that she is unstoppable. And she looks great in couture; she is a real couture woman."
It's not the first time Gaultier has surprised his audience with a special runway guest: earlier this year, Dita Von Teese hit the catwalk in a butterfly outfit, while in 2010, Beth Ditto took to the microphone (and the runway) to entertain guests.
In addition, Gaultier's autumn/winter 2014 show saw an eclectic cast of older models with grey hair hit the runway.
Conchita's appearance on the Gaultier runway is just another accolade the star can add to her growing resume: since completing Eurovision, she's been named an LGBT icon, headlined this year’s Gay Pride Festivals in London, Madrid and Stockholm and is currently focusing on her debut album. Phew!
