LYLE ANTHONY

LY L E A N T H O N Y

Did someone turn the heat all the way up to sizzling? Lyle Anthony is a talented musician, strikingly hot, gloriously half-naked in his videos, and here to make history. He won South Africa’s Popstars and now, with The Love Project EP, he’s all fired up to be 2022’s breakout international gay pop star! Story by Marc Andrews.

DNA: Your track Love Wins is such a great song and message. What’s the story? Lyle Anthony: Love Wins was birthed at the onset of covid when I saw the need for a fun-loving, happy song that allowed people to sing, smile and dance again. With the political climate at the time, and the LGBTQIA+ community being further marginalized in many ways, it was my love song to my community and the world. The video, directed by Assaad Yacoub, is one of the sexiest we’ve seen in ages! It celebrates self-love, my life, inclusion and diversity, which I always want to represent. So many people have been inspired by the video and love what it represents. Who’s the shirtless and pants-less hottie you get to wake up with? Matt Palmer, my co-star, is one of my closest friends in Los Angeles. There’s lots of flesh on display in the video. You aren’t shy. [Laughs] I’ve worked hard for my body and love being naked, so it’s just me having fun with it. We’re young only once and while we have it, f launt it. How do you look after those fab abs? I honestly don’t work out my abs that much, it’s just genetics. I wanna take the gym a bit more seriously though. I enjoy doing a full body workout most days. The stepper is my bestie in the gym – it maintains the derrière [laughs]. You won the TV talent show Popstars in South Africa in 2010. How do you view that now? The best part was I realised I’m good enough for the industry and it was also when I started figuring myself out and learnt to love myself for who I was. The part I didn’t enjoy as much was that I couldn’t be who I really was to appease my cute, adoring fans. Not so much anymore – I am gay and so proud! >>

>> You weren’t out on the show as a gay contestant? No, I wasn’t, and I truly wish I’d had the courage back then. I wasn’t living my truth and it showed. I wish I had been, but my journey is meant to be exactly as it has played out and I am enjoying the fact I’m still able to inf luence young gay men’s lives – the DMs and inboxes – I see them and love you all. What was the response in South Africa to you winning back then? I quickly became a household name and had many younger fans, which I loved. Being that it was a reality show people believed they had a right to me personally because I was on their TV screens weekly, so that became a bit scary, especially one specific show when the bus we were traveling in was surrounded by fans.

I love that the LGBTQIA+ communit y has so much representation and so many amazing artists have stepped up unashamedly. We are about to take the world by storm – they ain’t even ready!

Have there been many out LGBTQIA+ pop stars in South Africa before? No, there haven’t been many, and I’m glad to be part of a generation that drew strength from being exactly who they are. I’m glad I’m able to be an example to many South African gay men and the community at large. South Africa still has big problems with HIV/ AIDS. Yes, and HIV/AIDS will always be a subject close to my heart as it exists within our community and has taken so many amazing people. Thankfully, with research, we are seeing some amazing breakthroughs. What other causes are you involved with or keen to work on? I’m passionate about our LGBTQIA+ community and being an advocate for those who still feel they don’t have a voice. I’m super passionate about empowering the youth whether gay, bi, straight, trans, non-binary. Like Whitney said, the children are our future, and we’ve got to invest in a more healed, more evolved few generations to come. 2022 is a great time to be an out gay pop star. Your thoughts? I love that for first time in history the LGBTQIA+ community has so much representation and so many amazing artists have stepped up unashamedly. We are about to take the world by storm – they ain’t even ready! Who were your favourite pop stars when you were growing up? Craig David, Whitney Houston, Prince, and I’m also very much an old soul, so all the golden oldies from Luther Vandross to Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and Elton John. We’d like to call you the South African George Michael! [Laughs] George Michael is truly iconic, so I’ll take it. I’d like to be an icon one day, not only in our community but worldwide. You’re now based in LA after moving from South Africa. Why the move? After winning Popstars, signing with EMI, and performing and traveling around the world doing shows, I fell in love with LA and wanted to move here. I was granted an O1B visa by the US government, an extraordinary artist visa, which allowed me to live out my dream and here I am in The City Of Angels and loving life. How did lockdown affect you? Lockdown put a lot into perspective for me and made me push a little harder. My friend Todrick [Hall] messaged me one day reminding me how talented I am and that I needed to be in the studio. That really catapulted me into finishing off the project and pushing to make this a dream since I travelled to another continent to make it a reality. What’s your 2022 going to be like? 2022 is already looking huge. I’ve been booked for a few Pride events and performances. I Deserve [from The Love Project EP] is such a powerful song and so many are being touched by it. I would love for my reach to grow far greater in 2022. For right now, I’m just staying available, ready and wanting to expand beyond my wildest imagination in 2022. What’s your message to the world and the readers of DNA? To the amazing readers of DNA I say love yourself more than anything. If 2020 taught me anything it’s that the hardest thing we’ll ever have to do is become one with ourselves, believe in ourselves beyond measure and that will extend to those around you. Please don’t give up on yourself, on your dreams, or on love. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be the best version of you so keep shining. •

MORE: Find Lyle on Instagram @ lyleanthonyofficial, Twitter @lyleanthony_usa and on his website lyleanthony.com. His music is available on all digital platforms.

LYLE ON…

LA Guys: “A lot of the men here are beautiful but still figuring themselves out. It’s a real challenge for me not having someone who isn’t evolved in their beliefs, grounded in their beauty, and who genuinely loves themselves greatly. I find now, more than ever, the gay men of LA are on a path of healing, self-discovery and love, which is super attractive.” Hobbies: “Other than music I enjoy the gym, playing chess, a good night out, good food and planning for the future.” His Best Feature: “My best feature is my love for myself, which shines through and extends to the people around me. I love seeing people happy and smiling.” The Sexiest Thing About Him: “The sexiest thing about me would be up to the reader (laughs)! People find so many different things sexy, but I’d like to say my personality… and my booty!” Something That Might Surprise People About Him: “When some people meet me for the first time they think my accent is fake! Some are also shocked at me being a good, kind person who loves to motivate everyone around me. I love being kind to people regardless of who they are. It makes the world go round. I lost my brother to a horrible murder in February 2021, and to anyone who has lost someone so dearly and close, please know that you are loved and that healing is a personal journey. I wish only healthy and positive healing for you.” His Future Plans: “I’d love to get into acting or model for a massive brand. The possibilities are endless and I’m excited to see what’s in store for me.”