When viewers tuned into the 2015 Golden Globes red carpet, many were surprised to see a new face, the bearded woman persona called Conchita Wurst.

So who exactly is this star? Thomas "Tom" Neuwirth, an openly gay recording artist, also appears as his drag persona, Conchita Wurst. According to Wikipedia, Neuwirth uses masculine pronouns when referring to himself and feminine pronouns when referring to Wurst, so we'll do the same.

ConchitaWurst.com describes the relationship between Neuwirth and Wurst like this: "The private person and the fictional character respect and appreciate each other. They are two independent personalities with their respective individual life stories and they both take a strong stance for tolerance and against discrimination."

Wurst used her appearance on the 2015 Golden Globes red carpet to promote this positive message. Earlier today (Jan. 11), she tweeted:

The Golden Globes are an event that brings the glamour of Hollywood into living rooms across the planet. But let's not forget that events like this are also a strong showcase of the diversity and seriousness in entertainment as an art form. Recent events in Europe have shown that freedom of speech is under attack. Let's unite and keep on with our unstoppable fight for peace and freedom -- and freedom of expression!

You can find out more about Neuwirth and Wurst here.

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