TY KEOGH IS SOUTH AFRICA’S SEXIEST MALE CELEBRITY

Mambaonline.com has confirmed that popular TV star Tyrone Keogh is the winner of the 8th annual ClarinsMEN Mambaonline Sexiest Male Celeb Survey.

Tyrone was crowned SA’s sexiest male celebrity by the nation’s gay community at a VIP party event hosted at EDEN Rivonia in Johannesburg this past Friday, 7 December.

Close to 9,000 fan votes were cast in the poll, securing The Wild lead top honours, with new Top Billing presenter Jonathan Boynton-Lee polling in as 1st runner-up to Tyrone in this annual search by the local gay community to filter “who’s hot” from “who’s not”.

Winner- and poll-selection are solely based on a public vote via Mambaonline.com, South Africa’s largest and most sophisticated gay lifestyle portal. The finalists’ own sexuality is not of concern in the poll.

Top 5 for the 2012 ClarinsMEN Mambaonline Sexiest Man of the Year:

1) TV star Tyrone Keogh

2) Top Billing presenter Jonathan Boynton-Lee

3) Olympic winning swimmer Chad Le Clos

4) Mr Gay SA 2011 Lance Weyer

5) Cosmo Sexiest Man & reality TV star Gregg Hammond

Since taking on the role of Jack van Reenen in M-Net’s The Wild, Tyrone Keogh has won the CLEO 2011 Bachelor of the Year, was Mr April in Cosmo’s 2012 calendar and was recently voted the Sexiest Male Celeb at the YOU Spectacular Awards. He’s also a pretty sharp dresser; winning the 2012 GQ Best Dressed Man award.

“I believe that gay men have exceptional taste, so I take it as a huge compliment to win ClarinsMEN and Mambaonline’s Sexiest Man title for 2012. Looks might help get you in the door, but ability and integrity are what pay the bond.

“I know there are younger, better looking guys out there, trying to break into the business, but I’ve been slogging away for 12 years, casting, auditioning and workshopping to improve myself as an actor. I’m confident enough in my abilities so as not to let these ‘sexy’ titles result in insecurity,” Tyrone was quoted as saying after winning the title Friday night.

“In all seriousness, a person’s sexual orientation has no bearing on my opinion of them. I had a very liberal upbringing, surrounded by people from all walks of life. I was raised to be open-minded and accepting, regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation. My godmother is gay and my parents have several very close gay friends and colleagues who have been present in my life for as long as I can remember.

“I can’t remember the first time I really understood what gay meant, but I remember it being explained to me as simply: ‘X doesn’t love a woman, X loves a man’ It made sense. People love who they love,” explains Tyrone.

“I have and have had some very influential gays in my life. From teachers, ex bosses and co-workers to mentors and family, family friends and friends; there have been several gay and lesbian people who have taught me valuable lessons and helped me grow over the years.

“In a country where people are killed for being in a same-sex relationship, it must take amazing courage to ‘come out’. Thank you again, the support and encouragement that I’ve experienced since the start of the show has been incredible,” he concludes.

Read the full interview with the 2012 ClarinsMEN Mambaonline Sexiest Man of the Year, Tyrone Keogh at www.mambaonline.com.

Friday night’s party was hosted by popular theatre personality Bruce Little, and featured a live performance from local electro-pop band Flourish.

And, for those who became a little bit too heated and overly fabulous for the occasion, they had the option to make a turn past the ClarinsMEN Refresh Station – where party guests were pampered with assorted ClarinsMEN and Eau Dynamisante product applications.

Mambaonline.com revealed its 2012 selection of celeb hotties, culled from nominations by its site visitors, during Joburg Gay Pride earlier this year. The home-grown finalists ranged from household names to new up-and-coming stars. The winner was selected via site visitors voting for their favourite male celebrities via the Mambaonline portal.

The poll is an annual fun opportunity for South Africa’s gay community to choose their favourite, hottest local male celeb. Voting was free and lucky voters stood in line to win ClarinsMEN hampers, Bone Wear designer underwear, Azzaro Chrome fragrance hampers, Oasis Wellness luxury spa treatments and lots more. This year’s survey was presented by international male grooming brand ClarinsMEN.