She has received a transphobic backlash from some eastern European groups, but tonight Eurovision viewers were full of praise for Austrian drag artist entry Conchita Wurst.

Fans took to Twitter to praise the performer, comparing her song “Rise Like A Phoenix” to a Shirley Bassey ballad or a Bond theme tune.

Many tweeted in favour of Wurst’s set, expressing their support for the drag performer.

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One mother tweeted: “I am so glad that my kids live in an era where it is Conchita and not Hitler that represents Austria in Europe.”

Others were quick to compare the singer’s looks to Jesus, X Factor runner-up Rylan and Tulisa Contostavlos.

Wurst, real name Tom Neuwirth, had received negative comments from a minority of eastern Europeans calling for the Austrian entry to be withdrawn from Eurovision.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Eurovision 2014 Show all 32 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Eurovision 2014 1/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 2/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria celebrates after winning the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 3/32 Eurovision 2014 Cleo of Donatan & Cleo representing Poland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 4/32 Eurovision 2014 Molly Smitten-Downes representing Great Britain performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Rolf Klatt REX 5/32 Eurovision 2014 Andras Kallay-Saunders representing Hungary performs during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 6/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs the song 'Rise Like a Phoenix' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 7/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the Eurovision Song Contest Getty Images 8/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Softengine representing Finland perform the song 'Something Better' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 9/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 10/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Sanna Nielsen representing Sweden performs the song 'Undo' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 11/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Elaiza representing Germany perform their song 'Is it right' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 12/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Ruth Lorenzo representing Spain performs the song "Dancing in the rain" during the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 13/32 Eurovision 2014 Sebalter representing Switzerland perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 14/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo of Belarus performs on stage during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 15/32 Eurovision 2014 The Tolmachevy Sisters representing Russia perform the song 'Shine' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 16/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 17/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 18/32 Eurovision 2014 Valentina Monetta representing San Marino performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 19/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 20/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Twin Twin representing France perform their song 'Moustache' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 21/32 Eurovision 2014 The Common Linnets representing The Netherlands perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 22/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 23/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 24/32 Eurovision 2014 From let to right: TV hosts Pilou Asbaek, Lise Ronne and Nikolaj Koppel present the Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark EPA 25/32 Eurovision 2014 Ovi of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 26/32 Eurovision 2014 Carl Espen representing Norway performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 27/32 Eurovision 2014 Paula Seling of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 28/32 Eurovision 2014 Pollapoenk representing Iceland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 29/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 30/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Mariya Yaremchuk representing Ukraine performs the song 'Tick-Tock' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the B&W Halls in Copenhagen, Denmark AP 31/32 Eurovision 2014 Dilara Kazimova representing Azerbaijan performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 32/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 1/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 2/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria celebrates after winning the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 3/32 Eurovision 2014 Cleo of Donatan & Cleo representing Poland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 4/32 Eurovision 2014 Molly Smitten-Downes representing Great Britain performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Rolf Klatt REX 5/32 Eurovision 2014 Andras Kallay-Saunders representing Hungary performs during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 6/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs the song 'Rise Like a Phoenix' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 7/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the Eurovision Song Contest Getty Images 8/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Softengine representing Finland perform the song 'Something Better' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 9/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 10/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Sanna Nielsen representing Sweden performs the song 'Undo' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 11/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Elaiza representing Germany perform their song 'Is it right' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 12/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Ruth Lorenzo representing Spain performs the song "Dancing in the rain" during the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 13/32 Eurovision 2014 Sebalter representing Switzerland perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 14/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo of Belarus performs on stage during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 15/32 Eurovision 2014 The Tolmachevy Sisters representing Russia perform the song 'Shine' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 16/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 17/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 18/32 Eurovision 2014 Valentina Monetta representing San Marino performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 19/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 20/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Twin Twin representing France perform their song 'Moustache' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 21/32 Eurovision 2014 The Common Linnets representing The Netherlands perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 22/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 23/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 24/32 Eurovision 2014 From let to right: TV hosts Pilou Asbaek, Lise Ronne and Nikolaj Koppel present the Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark EPA 25/32 Eurovision 2014 Ovi of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 26/32 Eurovision 2014 Carl Espen representing Norway performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 27/32 Eurovision 2014 Paula Seling of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 28/32 Eurovision 2014 Pollapoenk representing Iceland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 29/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 30/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Mariya Yaremchuk representing Ukraine performs the song 'Tick-Tock' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the B&W Halls in Copenhagen, Denmark AP 31/32 Eurovision 2014 Dilara Kazimova representing Azerbaijan performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 32/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images

Russian politician Vitaly Milonov, one of the architects of the country’s gay propaganda law, called Wurst a “pervert” and labelled the competition a “hotbed of sodomy”.

Wurst responded to the criticism before the competing, saying: “I can only say [to them] ‘Thank you for your attention!’ If this is only about me and my person, I can live with it.

“I’m just a singer in a fabulous dress, with great hair and a beard.”

Read the reaction to Wurst’s Eurovision performance: