MR GAY SA LEAVES FOR OSLO
fitting on Saturday in Pretoria
Charl van den Berg, Mr. Gay South Africa, leaves Monday night for Oslo where he will compete for the title of Worldwide Mr. Gay.
Van den Berg, who won the local title in November last year, had his pageant wardrobe fitting on Saturday in Pretoria. His outfits have been designed by Peter Bondesio and he will wear swimwear by Bone Wear.
The 28 year old Capetonian, who also made appearances at Ramp Divas and Legends nightclubs this weekend, told Mambaonline that he was nervous and excited about the trip.
“It’s my first time travelling [overseas]. Once I get on the airplane I think I will finally relax after all the rushing around this past week,” he said.
He added that he was looking forward to “meeting people and different cultures, seeing how other gay guys live and punting South Africa and what a great country it is”.
During his trip, van den Berg will meet the Lord Mayor of Oslo, the Norwegian Prime Minister and visit the Nobel Institute as well as the Norwegian Parliament.
Worldwide Mr. Gay describes itself as a “twenty First Century beauty contest where the delegates represent their nation as the best spokesperson and embody the spirit of their nation”.
The participants will be judged over a four day period from 10 to 13 February, with the winner being announced at a pageant show on Saturday night.
Mr. Gay SA organisers have urged van den Berg’s supporters to vote for South Africa on the Worldwide Mr. Gay website at www.worldwidemrgay.com.
Good luck Charl!. Hope u do well! We’re proud of u.
Bring home the title Charl!. Good luck, we will be rooting for you!
Charl to Oslo. Love you Boy! We are all proud of you!
Irony. Ironic that a majority white country like Australia is sending a Black candidate but the South African candidate, year after dismal year …
Long walk out of the closet, short walk back into the brown shirt …
Ironic 1985minotaur. Even more ironic is that the non-white gays always complain about non-inclusion – but a handful enters these competitions … (and attends Pride, gayu events etc.).
You can’t win the Lotto if you don’t buy a ticket …
Irony. Actually, that’s not irony, Rudi (nor is anything in that song technically ironic!): that’s just the consequence of the racism rifeamong the white queers in South Africa. As a white person myself I’m often in the presence of these people who think ‘include’ me in their jibes, remarks and Botha-era attitudes, and are quite shocked when confronted by this, or else dissemble about their “preferences”.
I’m betting on Mr Norway, who at 50, may have more experience and a less D&G infected gaze on the issues affecting queers worldwide.
Mr Oz. Seeing that Australia has only about 700 000 blacks compared to 18 million whites, why don’t you call them “not representative”??
The reason they can is because the have learned to look past colour and judge the person, a lesson I see you still have to learn.
To say all Mr Gay SAs, Miss SA, Mr. SA should all be black always because black people are the majority is just plain stupid and luckily will not happen as these competitions strive to find the best candidate not the “right” candidate …
Colour. Guys, please! In a non racial society the white guy will sometimes win and at other times the black guy will win. It’s as simple as that………….