Conchita's appearance in the 2014 Eurovision song contest - one of the strangest and most exciting song and dance competitions in the world, in case you didn't know - attracted lashings of controversy before she even took the stage. It was seen as a tipping point for Europe, with much of Eastern Europe and orthodox Christian states outraged at her selection, calling it "spiritual decay" and "perversion".
On the other hand, Western and Central Europe cheered her on, and Conchita emerged from the finals a glittering triumph. Her song "Rise Like A Phoenix" marked her as one of the biggest LGBT icons of all time (and ironically the most downloaded song in Russia that year), and was the beginning of a tour and media frenzy that's still going to this day. Her continued success inspires us all in many ways we can't explain.