As she swans into the Dylan Hotel, all fabulous, flowing hair and immaculate hipster beard, Conchita looks every inch the global superstar. Before we can begin fans and well wishers stop to take her photo and be pictured snuggling up to the Eurovision winner. As she says herself, since her win, she has "many friends."

Conchita is in town for this year’s Dublin Pride performing at The George as part of their celebrations. Having Conchita on the bill is something of a coup for The George -- this is her first performance in Ireland since her historic win.

"It means much for me to be here," she says. "You supported me before all this happened."

She may be performing at the capital's most iconic gay bar, but she wont be lorrying into our most iconic drink, Guinness.

"Oh my God, no!" She laughs horrified. "The problem is I love to party and I have to be up early. Maybe just a sip," she adds diplomatically.

This is Conchita's second visit to Ireland and she describes Irish men as "handsome boys." When it is pointed out to her that her Claddagh ring - a gift she received earlier today - is worn suggesting her heart is taken, Conchita lets out a horrified "What!" and immediately turns it around.

The Irish connection doesn't end there. A former famous Eurovision winner who picked up the first prize in Dublin 24 years ago is her hero.

"I adore Celine Dion. She won in 1988 which is my year of birth, which might be a sign!"

On a more serious note, Conchita is at Pride to spread her message of tolerance and diversity. She explains that coming out to her family was not easy, for her or her parents but now they are completely supportive.

"My mother says, Oh my God! You have shoes! Can I borrow them?"

She has also faced questions if she is a drag queen or trans and is quick to point out the difference between the two.

"This is just fun and glitter. Being transgender is a life. What I do is just playing around."

She believes that people are often more tolerant than their governments - Conchita did well in the Russian popular vote despite homophobic rhetoric from Russian politicians before the competition. The conservative Russian politician Vitaly Milonov described Conchita as “a pervert from Austria” and claimed that her performance was “blatant propaganda of homosexuality and spiritual decay.”

"I think it is a big sign to politicians that people are not okay with their laws and maybe they should change them," she says. "A perfect world for me means we wouldn't need to talk about sexual orientation or the colour of your skin. These things shouldn't matter."

Luckily Conchita is not the kind of girl to bow to criticism. "I don't care. I focus on the positive things in life."