CAPETONIAN TAKES MR GSA TITLE

Twenty-six-year-old Werner de Waal was crowned Mr Gay South African 2014 on Friday night.

De Waal beat out nine other finalists from around the country to take the title at a ceremony at the Cape Quarter in Cape Town.

The 1.78 metre tall accountant grew up on the West Coast and now lives in the Mother City.

He will represent South Africa at the Mr Gay World competition in Rome in August 2014.

De Waal, who has been in a relationship for more than a year and a half, said that he is “still on cloud nine after the crowning”.

He went on to write on Facebook that “It is such an honour to represent the LGBTI community as the new Mr Gay SA 2014!

“It’s been a gratifying and enriching experience that I will never forget or trade for anything in the world.”

In 2010, De Waal won Mr Mardi Gras at the Pink Loerie festival in Knysna and Mr Lamberts Bay, in his home town.

This was the first time in the competition’s five year history that the grand finale has taken place in Cape Town.

Singer Jacques Terre’Blanche was among the performers who entertained the crowd during the event.

The first runner up was 38-year-old Helgard Marais from Joburg, while 26-year-old Dannyboy Mlambo from Pretoria took the third spot.