SOUTH AFRICA SCOOPS MR GAY WORLD FOR 2ND TIME
by Carlos Melia | www.carlosmeliablog.com)
For the second year running Mr. Gay South Africa, this time Francois Nel, has been crowned Mr. Gay World, with the country also being named next year’s host nation.
The announcement was made at the spectacular finale of the 3rd annual Mr. Gay World held in Club Mwah, Mandaluyong City, in the Philippines on Sunday.
Nel beat 23 gay men representing their respective countries and follows in the footsteps of fellow countryman Charl Van Den Berg who won the title last year in Oslo, Norway.
Nel, has a Visual Multimedia/Creative Writing degree, as well as, other passions, like working at a medical practice that dealt with HIV and TB under the direction of the renowned Dr Paul Timp. Nel discovered that the medical field also interests him and he completed a course in HIV Care and Counselling.
Completing his Creative studies exposed him to many different art forms, and he started following a professional career in makeup artistry and hair styling, in which he has worked both as artist and lecturer/educator.
Being the new Mr. Gay World 2011, Nel will receive US$25,000-worth of trips to visit the five continents where he will be promoting goodwill towards the gay community. He will also be wearing a Chris Winspear dog tag designed by the internationally renowned, South African jewellery designer.
Read Mambaonline.com’s interview with Nel, conducted shortly before he left for the Philippines.
The other top four finalists include the first runner up, Michael Holtz – Mr. Gay USA, followed by Israel Acevedo – Mr. Gay Spain, Leigh Charles – Mr. Gay Australia and Aaron Comis – Mr. Gay New Zealand.
Other awards presented included: Mr. Gay Swimwear – Australia, Mr. Gay Formal wear – Australia, Mr. Gay Congeniality – Estonia, Mr. Pinoy (Sports) Challenge – Ireland, Mr. Gay Photogenic – New Zealand, Mr. Gay People’s Choice Award – Philippines, Mr. Gay National Costume – Philippines.
| www.carlosmeliablog.com)
At Sunday’s ceremony, the Philippines’ member of the board, Noemi Alberto, officially handed over hosting duties to Coenie Kukkuk, who will be the next host producer of Mr. Gay World 2012 in Johannesburg. The event will be held from 4 to 8 April next year.
“We are so excited to take our Big Five (continents) to Africa to experience the ‘Rainbow Nation’ for our fourth annual competition,” said President of Mr. Gay World, Eric Butter.
“The producers of Mr. Gay South Africa have produced excellent quality events and [we] are so looking forward to the production and unique African experience they are planning for the international delegation.”
According to Mr. Gay World (MGW), the pageant’s aim is to advance national and international gay rights through education and public performance. The title-holder’s mission is to create authentic leaders who will take responsibility, not only in own community but on a global stage, speaking out for equal rights by inspiring those around him. MGW is a positive role model that will champion equality and diversity in the media, both gay and mainstream.
View video of Francois Nel being named Mr. Gay World 2011
(MGW2011 Photos and Video courtesy of CM by Carlos Melia | www.carlosmeliablog.com)
View video of South Africa being named the Mr. Gay World 2012 Host Country
(MGW2011 Photos and Video courtesy of CM by Carlos Melia | www.carlosmeliablog.com)
Well done Francois. Well done to our new Mr.Gay World Francois Nell ,you did us all proud in the rainbow nation ,i look forward to welcoming the entire gay world to our beautiful country.This is South Africa’s time ,once agian welll done Francois and Charl you both are true reflections and Ambassadors for South Africa and the World.
Happy Regards
A memeber of the South African Gay Community
Well done Francois..so proud of you.
Very proud!. Double whammy!
What a joke!. Within the gay community there are so much racial divide and it saddens me yet again how the Mr. Gay South Africa Committee uses the african-black component in their video to allude to its inclusiveness.
For South Africa, it is also strange that a Black person has never really won the competition – one would swear only whites are gay.
Im sorry, but next time showcase the real South Africa, and dont use us when its is convenient to do so!
Connie you are pathetic! I would suggest you bunch first become more inclusive, speak out against the corrective rape and bridge the racial divide and get more black executives onto the committee, both in pride and the pageant!
You all make me wanna go straight!
true. i couldnt agree more with you my friend!
and then the africans sing as background music as if they will give a black brotha a chance?
we must rise to white gays! THIS SHIT MUST END!
See my answer above. Hmmm you blacks did not enter – so how could you win> Tjis competition is based on MERIT and not Affirmative Action where you get everything handed on a plate. Again, to hav won Mr Gay world tow times in a row negates your whole argument.
why. I am so tired of it always becoming a race fight.
Yes, you are right, to some degree.
But is it necessary to offend other people.
This Black vs White fight will go on as long as both sides attack the other.
You say “include”, do you think it’s possible if we keep bickering like this?
Why can’t you just congratulate Francois os his achievement, and move on?
change. ok, congrats…
but please bear in mind, tired, we are not fighting neither are we bickering – its simply stating facts.
It is unfortunate that white gay people (and i am white) do things so subtle that when black persons try to intervene , it is seen as obscene, common and racist.
For years, these people have been playing these games in society, and the way we see black people and gay at that, is even worse.
Im sure you know this all too well that within your own circles how we degrade black gays. I try and make the change, but we need more people to stand united to fight this divide within our own gay community.
I had a look at Cape Town Pride, from where i sit, and it was said that it moved out of the city into sea point, areas where white gays live – then there are the issue that events were pricey to attend, it wasnt inclusive, and then the festival director talk about making it more upscale? WTF? Then a quick glance on the committee reveals its mostly whites> so no regard for the less fortunate gays whom are also proud.
The whole pride event is to show closetted gay men that thye can be proud of who they are, and that there are thousands like them and proud top be that way – giving hope to the hopeless. how can we do that, when we insist in keeping it in areas not accessible by everyone?
The same can be said about Joburg pride, the same about MRGSA? who does these things target? who is really included in its plans? do we think about our own communities or is it just a PR stunt to show the world, hey we gay too? This needs to be localised more, we need to help and assist our own people, black, white, indian, coloured etc. they have more need of our support and loyalty and we need to include them in our programmes and go out and make that change!
Black sponsors and attendees. Ok, so may I ask how many black sponsors were there? None.
How many of the 400 ppl attending the north regional final were black? a handful.
How many entries from the black and coloured guys? Seven out of 20 if I remember correctly.
The rest? All white.
The black guys can not want to be included if they DO NOT participate. Nor the audiences and sponsors.
Exactly. Exactly – and – why don;’t they just enter> They don;’t so thats why basically
I was there …. What can they do when so few blacks enter? I was a contestant at the northr egional in pta and although there were only 7 black or coloured guys out of the 20 who participated, a black guy came first and a coloured guy came second – so you are just wrong. They were not good enough in the final to win – and that is the bottom line. Winning mr Gay world TWICE vindicates all what they have said and negates your argument completely.
make believe. uhm not!
we all kind cock up arguments to suit our own agenda`s.. the fact remain, a black/coloured person was not chosen. And a white guy, with an ugly scar on his torso qualifies?
And what is your argument again?
lets talk facts… lets not smell our own shit and get high on it…
Start with electing true representatives of the community, not ones that looks, acts and speak like you..
Huh. Just accept it that the white guy was better – he won Mr. Gay World – end of story, No argument needed.
awesome. damn awesome