What does healthy masculinity look like when it embraces vulnerability, compassion and queer identity? Gay contestant Vuyisile Xaba hopes to help answer that question through the Mr South Africa Presenter Search.
Driven by a passion for public speaking and advocacy, he sees the competition as a platform to challenge stereotypes, promote authentic self-expression and encourage men to become positive forces in their communities.
Born in Johannesburg and raised in the Free State’s City of Roses, Xaba describes his upbringing as a blend of love, curiosity and discovery.
“My upbringing has always been an assorted collaboration of authentic love at the tender hands of my parents, and wonder into all the adventures the world could unfold for a boy whose voice often echoed with wonder and curiosity,” he says.
He believes both his successes and failures have shaped the man he is today.
“The man I am today is a product of vulnerability. The school of victory and lessons behind my failures continue to mould me into a man who has always been daring but kind, outspoken but attentive.”
Making space for queer representation
As a gay man in the Mr South Africa Presenter Search, Xaba sees an opportunity to broaden conversations about healthy masculinity and men’s roles in society.
“Today in South Africa, this is such an imperative conversation where men need to be liable in ensuring that they work into becoming beacons of inspiration and hope in every conversation and interaction within the communities they are raised in.”
Xaba believes his identity enriches these discussions rather than contradicting them.
“My queerness and its genuine expression can coexist alongside these dialogues which seek to discover the man of tomorrow, our next Mr South Africa.”
His participation also offers queer people visibility in a space where LGBTQ+ representation can challenge assumptions about who embodies leadership, confidence and positive masculinity.
A voice shaped by debate and advocacy
Xaba discovered his passion for public speaking through school debate competitions, which taught him to question ideas and explore issues beyond the surface.
“I have always interpreted public speaking as an art form which challenged me to ask and advocate for what exists beyond the surface,” he says.
For Xaba, presenting is about more than speaking confidently on camera. It is an opportunity to facilitate meaningful conversations and connect with people through openness and empathy.
“To this competition I plan on bringing what exactly brought me this far: my vulnerability. It is through my ability to accept who I am that I am able to accept others as they are in pursuit to stimulating and insightful conversation.”
He believes his willingness to listen and engage without judgment will help him draw out stories that matter.
A message to young queer people
Beyond his own ambitions, Xaba hopes his journey will inspire young LGBTQ+ people to embrace their identities without feeling pressured to conform to spaces that do not accept them.
“Do not make the mistake of conforming into spaces that were never meant to sustain you,” he says. “You come as you are and show the world all you are able to achieve your dream by being unapologetically yourself.”
For Xaba, visibility means more than being seen. It means having the freedom to pursue opportunities without concealing or compromising one’s identity to earn acceptance.
He believes his presence in the competition will affirm that being queer is no barrier to ambition, leadership or success.
How to support Vuyisile Xaba
Xaba is calling on supporters to vote for him in the Presenter Search, bringing him closer to becoming a red-carpet presenter and contributing to conversations about the qualities and responsibilities South Africa’s next Mr South Africa should embody.
He explains: “Your vote makes it possible for me to find what exists beyond the surface.”
Supporters can vote for Vuyisile Xaba by purchasing a voting bundle through the official link below.
Vote for Vuyisile Xaba: https://vote.imperialtechsuite.com/vote/wsa-red-carpet-presenter-search/C1OLT-451
For Xaba, the competition is an opportunity to encourage self-acceptance, spark meaningful conversations and demonstrate that queer identity and healthy masculinity can coexist.
His message is simple: authenticity is not something to leave behind when entering a new space. It is something to bring with you.
