Eurovision 2014's winner Conchita Wurst wows 10,000 fans in Vienna, Austria

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'Phoenix' Conchita Wurst sang in front of thousands in Vienna
More than 10,000 fans - many in fake beards - came to see her
Crowd got so large they spilled from the square into a park

Published: 18:10 EST, 18 May 2014 | Updated: 06:36 EST, 19 May 2014

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She won hearts far and wide across Europe - and the world - when she won last week's Eurovision Song Contest, but Conchita Wurst truly is the queen in her home country.

Last Saturday night, Conchita’s Rise Like A Phoenix was awarded 290 points, ensuring that Eurovision 2015 will be held in the Austrian capital.

More than 10,000 people gathered in front of the federal chancellery in Vienna, to celebrate the return of Conchita to the stage.

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The Phoenix: Austrian singer and Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst performs on stage in front of the federal chancellery in Vienna

Fandom: An estimated 10,000 people gathered to see Conchita return to the stage in Austria after her Eurovision win

Eventually, as more fake-bearded fans gathered in the square in front of Chancellor Werner Faymann's office, the space proved too small, forcing much of the crowd into a nearby park.

Wurst said her Song Contest victory is ‘not for me, but for people who believe in a future with progress.’

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In a meeting with Wurst, Chancellor Faymann, head of the Austrian government, praised her as a symbol for ‘tolerance, love and joy of life.’

Wurst, the alter ego of 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth, triumphed over the 25 contestants in this year’s contest, including British singer Molly Smitten-Downes, who came 17th with just 40 points.

Conchita Wurst wows 10,000 fans in Vienna homecoming

Triumphant: There was no end to the cheering of the crowd when their queen Conchita returned to sing for the first time since her win last Saturday

Can you hear the people sing? So many fans gathered in central Ballhausplatz square in Vienna, that they spilled over into the nearby park

Yes, we can: Elderly Conchita fans cover their ears as a younger rainbow-clad woman shouts with joy

Little and large: Conchita Wurst made a triumphant return to Austria last week after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in what the country's president called a victory for tolerance in Europe

The Austrian drag queen, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, has received fan messages from Elton John and Cher following her win

Karaoke: The lyrics to Conchita's winning tune Rise Like A Phoenix was displayed on the big screen for the crowd to sing along to

As Conchita, she identifies as gender neutral but prefers to use female pronouns where this is needed.

Prior to Eurovision, Wurst had faced a barrage of homophobic and transphobic attacks from within her own country and from other countries including Russia, Armenia and Belarus, who branded the contest a 'hotbed of sodomy', the BBC reported.

'I can only say thank you for your attention. If this is only about me and my person, I can live with it', Wurst previously said about her critics in emails.

'You know, I have a very thick skin. It's just strange that a little facial hair causes that much excitement.'

This year's Song Contest was hosted by last year's winners, Denmark, with Eurovision 2015 to be held in Austria's capital Vienna.

Halls of power: Conchita Wurst speaks during a welcome ceremony at the federal chancellery

Centre of attention: Austrian Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann, left, and Federal Minister for Arts and Culture Josef Ostermayer, right, welcome Conchita