Mister Gay World

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Mr Gay World
TypeBeauty pageant
First edition2009
Most recent edition2025
Current titleholderJulio Spatola
Italy
Founder
  • Eric Butter
Owner
Wayne Renzo
LanguageEnglish
Websitehttp://www.mrgayworld.com/

Mr. Gay World is an annual international beauty pageant competition for gay men, established in 2009. On September 4, 2024, Wayne Renzo from the Philippines acquired the Mr. Gay World Organization.[1][2]

Media coverage

The event explicitly seeks to highlight discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and provide select positive role models. A number of contestants from a number of countries has faced sanctions for their selection or competition, including Nolan Lewis from India,[3][4] Taurai Zhanje from Zimbabwe, Robel Hailu from Ethiopia, former Olympian Chavdar Arsov from Bulgaria, Wendelinus Hamutenya from Namibia and Xiao Dai from China.[5][6] Contestants in Mr. Gay Syria were only able to compete after leaving the country and sought refugee status in Canada.[7]

Mr Gay World seeks to establish ambassadors for LGBTQ+ and human rights, with winners of national contests competing as delegates in a variety of categories. In 2021, the pageant amended its policy to encompass the male-identifying spectrum within the LGBTQ+ community.[8]

Controversy

In 2014, Mr Gay New Zealand, Mr Gay Australia and a sponsoring skincare company all pulled out of the competition claiming 'bullying, poor living conditions, and inappropriate pressure to hook up with other contestants'. Mr Gay World replied claiming that the two contestants had been removed for alcohol abuse and rule breaking.[9]

In 2015, the winner of the competition, Mr Gay Germany Klaus Burkart, stepped down seven months later citing “personal changes,” and was replaced by Mr Gay Hong Kong.[9]

In 2018, Mr Gay World announced that the 2019 competition will move to South Africa from Hong Kong due to prohibition from local authorities.[10]

In November 2021, Mr. Gay World South Africa 2021 Louw Breytenbach resigned; the title was given to South African Runner-up Bonginkosi Ndima, who then resigned in March 2022,[11][12] and then Mr. Gay World Philippines 2021 Joel Rey Carcasona took over the title Mr. Gay World 2021.

Titleholders

Edition Year Date Mr Gay World Runner-up Location Entrants Ref.
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
1 2009 February 13, 2009 Max Krzyzanowski
 Ireland		 Alexis Cespedes
Paraguay		 Pico Velasco Michel
Mexico		 Ben Edwards
Australia		 Reece Karena
New Zealand		 Darren Bruce
Canada		 Whistler, Canada 19 [13]
2 2010 February 13, 2010 Charl van den Berg
 South Africa		 Samuel Adu
Australia		 Rick Dean Twombley
Hong Kong		 Xindai Muyi
China		 Sergio Lara
Spain		 Not awarded Oslo, Norway 23 [14]
3 2011 March 13, 2011 Francois Nel
 South Africa		 Michael Kevin Holtz
United States		 Israel Acevedo
Spain		 Leigh Charles
Australia		 Aaron Comis
New Zealand		 Not awarded Mandaluyong, Philippines 23 [15][16]
4 2012 April 8, 2012 Andreas Derleth
 New Zealand		 Lance Weyer
South Africa		 Remy Frejaville
France		 Kevin Scott Power
United States		 Thom Goderie
Netherlands		 Not awarded Johannesburg, South Africa 22 [17][18]
[19]
5 2013 August 5, 2013 Christopher Michael Olwage
 New Zealand		 Benjie Vasquez Caraig
Hong Kong		 Matthew Simmons
United States		 Not awarded Antwerp, Belgium 25 [20]
6 2014 August 31, 2014 Stuart Hatton Jr
United Kingdom		 Kiriakos Spanos
Cyprus		 Robbie Lawlor
Ireland		 Luis Vento
Venezuela		 Bridge Hudson
Hong Kong		 Not awarded Rome, Italy 23 [21][22]
7 2015 May 3, 2015 Klaus Burkart
 Germany
(Resigned)		 Mass Luciano
Hong Kong
(Assumed)		 Tomi Lappi
Finland		 Not awarded Cape Town, South Africa 21 [23][24]
8 2016 April 23, 2016 Roger Gosalbez
 Spain		 Chris Krauel
Austria		 Christian Lacsamana
Philippines		 Kyle Patrick
Sint Maarten		 Rafael Fagundes
Brazil		 Not awarded Valletta, Malta 24 [25][26]
9 2017 May 10, 2017 John Raspado
 Philippines		 Cándido Arteaga
Spain		 Raf Van Puymbroeck
Belgium		 Marco Tornese
 Switzerland		 Alexander Steyn
South Africa		 Not awarded Maspalomas, Spain 21 [27][28]
10 2018 May 26, 2018 Jordan Paul Bruno
 Australia		 Ricky Devine-White
New Zealand		 Samarpan Maiti
India		 Po-Hung Chen
Taiwan		 João de Oliveira
Portugal		 Not awarded Knysna, South Africa 21 [29][30]
11 2019 May 4, 2019 Janjep Carlos
 Philippines
(Completed)		 Fran Alvarado
Spain
(Assumed)		 Oliver Pusztai
Hungary		 Chayodhom Samibat
Thailand		 Nick Van Vooren
Belgium		 Not awarded Cape Town, South Africa 22 [31][32]
[33]
12 2020 May 3, 2020 Kodie Macayan
 Philippines		 Marek Piekarczyk
Poland		 Vicente Miron
Mexico		 Not awarded Virtual contest
(Cape Town, South Africa)		 9 [34][35]
13 2021 October 30, 2021 Louw Breytenbach
 South Africa
(Resigned)		 Joel Carcasona
Philippines
(Assumed)		 Joshuan Aponte
Puerto Rico		 Not awarded 10 [36][37]
[38][39]
14 2022 October 16, 2022 José López Duvónt
 Puerto Rico		 Tony Ardolino
United States		 Max Appenroth
Germany		 Not awarded Cape Town, South Africa 8 [40][41]
[42]
15 2023 October 27, 2023 Troy Michael Smith
Guam		 David Allwood
Great Britain		 Dion Alexander
Australia		 Not awarded 11 [43][44]
16 2024 August 26, 2024 Paul Carruthers
Great Britain		 John Bench Ortiz
Philippines		 Poosit Changkaewmanee
Thailand		 Not awarded Northumberland, United Kingdom 11 [45][46]
Edition Year Date Mr Gay World Mr Gay World Intercontinental Mr Gay World Tourism Runner-up Location Entrants Ref.
First Second
17 2025 December 1, 2025 Giulio Spatola
Italy		 Tim Kusters
Netherlands		 Gert Claassen-Smit
South Africa		 Paul Dennison
Great Britain		 Daisuke Kawarada
Japan		 Quezon City, Philippines 12 [47]

Country/territory by number of wins

The 2020 finale was held alongside the 2021 finale, creating an Epic Finale in which two winners were crowned.

Country/Territory Titles Year
Philippines 4 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021[a]
South Africa 3 2010, 2011, 2021[b]
Spain 2 2016, 2019[c]
New Zealand 2012, 2013
Italy 1 2025
Great Britain 2024
Guam 2023
Puerto Rico 2022
Australia 2018
Germany 2015[b]
Hong Kong 2015[a]
United Kingdom 2014
Ireland 2009
  1. Originally crowned 1st Runner-Up. Took over the title after the original winner resigned.
  2. Resigned
  3. Originally crowned 1st Runner-Up. Took over the title after the original winner completed his reign.

See also

References

  1. "MGB-organisator Bram Bierkens: "Geen intentie om aan Mister Gay Universe mee te doen"".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. "MR GAY WORLD 2025: A NEW ERA UNDER FILIPINO LEADERSHIP". Archived from the original on August 27, 2025.
  3. "Could India get its own gay pageant? | Vogue India | Culture & Living | Culture". Vogue.in. August 14, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  4. Dhruba Jyoti Purkait (July 18, 2013). "I'd rather be a freak than a stereotype: Mr. Gay India 2013". hindustan Times. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  5. "Mr Gay World shakes African perceptions". timeslive.co.za. 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012. Xiao Dai,
  6. "Mr Gay World contest goes ahead in Johannesburg despite threats". The Independent. London: INM. April 9, 2012. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  7. "We Are One+Together Launches 'Mr Gay Syria' Campaign + Premieres Film". The Untitled Magazine. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on April 3, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  8. "Mr Gay World opens contest to all men". June 15, 2021.
  9. Bell, Niko (June 29, 2016). "Threats, lies and a gay beauty pageant Mr Gay World contestants accuse organizers of bullying, bias and incompetence". xtramagazine.com. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  10. Chan, Holmes (August 20, 2018). "Mr Gay World cancels Hong Kong event citing concerns over LGBTQ crackdown in mainland". Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. Tracer, Dan (August 16, 2022). "Mr. Gay World slaps former winner with gag order and it all sounds messy AF". Queerty. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  12. Igual, Roberto (March 24, 2022). "Bongs Ndima angrily resigns as Mr Gay World South Africa". MambaOnline - Gay South Africa online. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  13. "Irishman wins Mr. Gay World title".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. "Mr. Gay Sa Wins World Title in Oslo". Mamba Online. February 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  15. "OMG! South Africa's Francois Nel is Mr. Gay World 2011!". Archived from the original on November 23, 2024.
  16. "South Africa Claims Mr. Gay World Title For 2nd Straight Year: Francois Nel Wins".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. "Thí sinh Đức đoạt danh hiệu "Mr Gay World 2012"". Archived from the original on November 23, 2024.
  18. "New Zealander declared Mr Gay World". Archived from the original on November 23, 2024.
  19. "ANDY DERLETH: MR. GAY WORLD 2012". Archived from the original on November 23, 2024.
  20. "THE MAMBA INTERVIEW: CHRIS OLWAGE". Archived from the original on November 24, 2024.
  21. Towner, Myriah (November 29, 2014). "South Shields dance teacher Stuart Hatton crowned Mr Gay World". ChronicleLive. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  22. Nichols, James (September 2, 2014). "Stuart Hatton, Mr. Gay U.K. 2014, Crowned Mr. Gay World 2014". HuffPost. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  23. Wee, Darren (November 18, 2015). "Mr Gay World steps down due to 'personal changes'". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  24. Salandra, Adam (November 22, 2015). "Mr. Gay Hong Kong Emmanuel Mass Luciano Crowned Mr. Gay World". LOGO News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  25. Richens, Tony (April 23, 2016). "Mr Gay World 2016 Winner - Roger Gosalbez from Spain". Gay Nation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  26. "Spanjaard Roger Gosalbez Pitaluga wint Mister Gay World 2016". winq.nl (in Dutch). April 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  27. "PH bet John Raspado wins Mr Gay World 2017". Rappler. May 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  28. Villareal, Daniel (May 26, 2018). "John Fernandez Raspado Reflects on His Year Spent as Mr. Gay World 2017". Hornet. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  29. Schuessler, Bobby (May 29, 2018). "Meet the Hot Aussie Who Just Won Mr Gay World 2018". Out. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  30. Jones, Jesse (May 28, 2018). "Jordan Bruno becomes the first Australian to win Mr Gay World". Star Observer. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  31. Lotto Persio, Sofia (May 5, 2019). "Filipino businessman Janjep Carlos crowned Mr Gay World". PinkNews. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  32. "Philippine bet Janjep Carlos wins Mr. Gay World 2019". GMA Entertainment. May 6, 2019. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  33. "In an extraordinary move, the 2020 finale will be held alongside the 2021 finale, creating an "Epic Finale" where two winners will be crowned". Instagram. May 10, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. Requintina, Robert (October 17, 2021). "PH bet crowned Mister Gay World 2020". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  35. "The Philippines' Kodie Macayan wins Mr. Gay World 2021". ABS-CBN News. October 17, 2021. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  36. Ermac, Raffy (November 8, 2021). "Meet the South African Hunk Who Won Mr. Gay World 2021". Out. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  37. Rogers, Destiny (November 6, 2021). "31-yr-old South African Louw Breytenbach Mr Gay World 2021". QNews. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  38. de Wee, Naledi (December 30, 2021). "Joel Rey Carcasona replaces Louw Breytenbach as Mr Gay World 2021". The South African. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  39. Cooper, Alex (December 21, 2021). "Mr. Gay World 2021 Resigns After Contract Dispute". Advocate. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  40. "Mr. Gay World 2022 Has Been Announced". Archived from the original on November 26, 2024.
  41. "First-ever Latinx winner announced as Mr Gay World 2022". Archived from the original on November 26, 2024.
  42. "José López Duvont Is Mr Gay World 2022". Archived from the original on November 26, 2024.
  43. "Troy Michael Smith Crowned Mr Gay World 2023, Australia's Dion Alexander Is Second Runnerup". Archived from the original on November 26, 2024.
  44. "Guam's Troy Michael Smith crowned Mr Gay World 2023". Archived from the original on December 17, 2023.
  45. "UK Nurse Clinches Mr Gay World 2024 Crown: A Win For Trans Rights". Archived from the original on September 6, 2024.
  46. "Great Britain Takes Mr Gay World 2024 Title". Archived from the original on September 6, 2024.
  47. "Tim Küsters uitgeroepen tot Mr. Gay World Intercontinental 2025 in Manila". Archived from the original on December 3, 2025.