Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride 2026 crowned its newest reigning king and queen in a night of glitz, glamour and community advocacy.
Contestants brought their jaw-dropping outfits and award-winning speeches to the stage at the Joseph Stone Auditorium on the 14th of February.
Competition was tough, but Adrian Oktober and Larissa Gordon emerged victorious, taking home the titles of Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride, respectively.
A Star-Studded Night of Celebration
Contenders dazzled the judges in the swimwear and evening wear categories before the selection of the top four contestants. Audience members were treated to guest performances from 3Divas, Maxine Wild, Jarrad Ricketts and Manilla von Teez.
Fourteen contestants vied for the title of Mr Cape Town Pride with Adrian Oktober winning the crown, Rick Botha crowned as 1st Prince and Fred Mark Damons crowned as 2nd Prince.
When asked how he will use his platform, Oktober shared, “I have the authenticity to be a voice for the voiceless. Where I come from, Oudtshoorn, a very small town where opportunities are less, our queer people are not seen for who and what they are, and I think that’s what I represent.”
“I have a softness, not a weakness, and femininity means something very good to me. That’s what I will do in my reign, be a voice for the queer people of South Africa”, he added.
“A beautiful platform”
Seven contenders competed for the title of Miss Cape Town Pride, with Larissa Gordon winning the crown, Valentina Petronella crowned as 1st Princess and Sheezah Star crowned as 2nd Princess.
Larissa Gordon reflected on her journey to Miss Cape Town Pride, telling MambaOnline, “When I was starting this journey, I started pageantry in 2019. This is my third time entering Miss Cape Town Pride. The first time, I was not even in the top five; the second time around, I was first runner-up. I gave it a break, came back, and it’s like they say, the third time is really the charm!”
Gordon shared that she wants her reign to be a beacon of hope for others. “I have always wanted to be an ambassador for change. If I can get to that one individual who is not as confident and set the bar for them to dream bigger dreams, that’s what I want to do,” she said.
The announcement of the new reigning king and queen was introduced through a heartfelt pageant walk by several of the previous winners, including a final speech from Miss Cape Town Pride 2025, Shuvandre Anastacia Rodriguez.
“I am honoured to have served this title to the best of my abilities,” Rodriguez shared. “Miss Cape Town Pride has given me such a beautiful platform to elevate the causes I stand for, and it has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I am so proud of this year’s winners, I know they will take this far,” she added.
A New Era
This is the eighth year of Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride and the first pageant under the leadership of Kat Gilardi, who took over as director of the pageant from Barry Reid and the late Mark Donough.
On taking on the role of director, Gilardi told InBound South Africa ahead of the event, “I step into this role with pride and respect for what has been built before me. Mark Donough shaped my understanding of pageantry and involved me from the beginning. That is where my passion grew.”
Catch Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride 2026 at the Cape Town Pride Parade and Mardi Gras on Saturday, 28 February.
