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Cover Photograph by Samuel Rodrigues www.studioohphotography.com
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WELCOME "It is with my greatest pleasure that we welcome the Delegates and guests, to the 2015 Mr. Gay World™ competition in South Africa. We are proud to be working with the producers of 2015, the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival™ Knysna, as we both have similar objectives in creating opportunities for us to share - and to reiterate that Gay Rights are Human Rights. Make the best of it, and remember that you all are winners, just by being here and representing your LGBT community. You give hope to many, and in that alone this endeavour is a success."
Eric Butter
President and co-founder of Mr. Gay World™
“It is with great pride that we welcome the delegates, president, directors, judges, national producers and supporters of Mr. Gay World™ to South Africa. This is an experience of a lifetime, with many of the delegates traveling outside of their home countries for the first time. It is an on-going pleasure to show you our wonderful country and hopefully to leave you with an experience that you will cherish forever. Please go from here not only as ambassadors of LGBT rights - the main purpose - but also as ambassadors of South Africa and Africa as a whole. We will not forget you and hopefully you will not forget us and return one day."
Coenie Kukkuk
Managing Director 2015 & Director: Africa & Middle East. Mr. Gay World™
The City of Cape Town is pleased to be able to welcome the Mr Gay World pageant to Cape Town this year. Following years of events all over the world it is a great honour for Cape Town to be chosen as this year’s destination. Mr Gay World represents exactly what the City stands for as we strive to create opportunities in an inclusive society that not only recognises our differences but also celebrates them. As we play host to various gay pride events such as the Mother City Queer Party, Mr Gay World adds to our very busy calendar of events. As a city that is fast becoming the events capital of Africa we continue to succeed in creating the environment favourable for events. A well- run City makes it easy for event organisers to operate here and we trust that this will be the experience of the event organisers of Mr Gay World. The wide range of events held in the City of Cape Town is testament to our diversity and celebrates the warm and inviting spirit of Capetonians. We trust that the participants and visitors to Mr Gay World will have a wonderful stay in South Africa’s most beautiful City and wish all the contestants well for the competition.
Councillor Garreth Bloor
Mayoral Committee Member: Tourism, Events and Economic Development
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DIRECTORS Eric Butter
President, Mr. Gay World™ - Australia & Republic of El Salvador Eric is 43, has a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Aviation, Commercial Pilot’s Licence and Flight Instructor’s Rating. Eric lives in Sydney, Australia and founded Mr Gay World™ in 2008. He felt he needed to originate Mr. Gay World™ as an organisation that would create public performances that empower gay men to be the best they can be and be able to share their stories. His vision was to create a positive environment for gay men to become leaders of each of their nations, helping to create this global network of support to help combat homophobia.
Dieter Sapper
Chairman of the Board of Mr Gay World™ Directors Dieter Sapper is a professional eventmanager and showcreator. At his Austrian company Nouba-Events he creates Partys, Events, Fashion Shows and is also involved in scouting, coaching and training of models and catwalk professionals. After becoming the Producer of Mr Gay Germany, Austria and Switzerland and delivering a glamorous MGE Production in 2014 Dieter Sapper now acends to his position as CEO of MGW, Creative Director and Director on the Board of Directors.
Coenie Kukkuk
Director of Mr. Gay World™ Africa and the Middle East Managing Director Mr. Gay World™ 2015 He is a practicing attorney of the High Court of South Africa and served as a Commissioner of the Small Claims Court from 1996 - 2009 and as the attorney of Joburg Pride from 2007 to early 2011 where he was instrumental in setting up the Joburg Pride Sect. 21 Non-Profit Company. He also edits the social news network Gayspeak. He was a founder director of Mr. Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd. in 2009 and was Director Operations of Mr. Gay South Africa from 2010 - 2012, when he retired from the competition. He has served on the board of Mr. Gay World from 2011 as Director: Africa & Middle East and received the Eric Butter Philanthropy Award in 2012.
Noemi Alberto
Director of Mr Gay World Asia Mrs. Noemi Alberto is a mother of four, a chemical engineering graduate and now a successful business woman in the Philippines. She is engaged in the business of sending professional artists and skilled workers abroad. Being emerged in the entertainment industry where LGBT people excel well, for her love of the LGBT working for her, this lead her to embrace the responsibility of being the Director for Asia of Mr. Gay World Organization, which she enjoys the most.
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Ivan Denis and Bram Bierkens
Directors of Mr Gay World™ Europe Ivan Denis is an indepentant consultant in the fields of Public Relations, Digital Marketing, Representation, Event Management and Social Media. And was one of the ambassadors of the worldOutgames 2013 in Antwerp. And Bram Bierkens works full--time for the Belgium national TV channels. In addition, he is also active as a presenter, singer and media coach. Together they live in the historic center of Antwerp, Belgium. Where they have founded the non-profit association Young Dynamic Style – Events (YDS--Events), responsible for the organization of various events in the LGBT community. Including the Mister Gay Flanders election who represent Belgium internationally.
Juan Martin Boll and Nano Garcia
Directors of Mr Gay World™ Latin-America, Caribbean and the USA Juan, an Argentinean living in Madrid, Spain, is an entrepreneur specialized in organizing events. Since 2007 he is a member of the Gay Pride Madrid Organization and Secretary of Madrid Tourism Business Association for Gay and Lesbians (AEGAL). Since 2008 he is founder and Director of Mr. Gay Pride Spain Contest, one of the most prestigious gay events in the country and nowadays he is a member of the 2017 World Pride Madrid Organization. Nano has a degree in Business Administration, specialized in marketing and events communication, actor and presenter, and since 2008 he is Co-founder and General Coordinator of Mr. Gay Pride Spain Contest. Juan and Nano have created a well-known reputation in the production of events and shows within the LGBT community.
EXECUTIVE TEAM Eric Butter
President, Mr. Gay World™ - Australia & Republic of El Salvador
Coenie Kukkuk
Director of Mr. Gay World™ Africa and the Middle East
John-Louis O’Neil
Executive Producer of Mr Gay World™ 2015 South-Africa
Karin Sephton
Executive Producer of Mr Gay World™ 2015 South-Africa
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PRODUCTION TEAM John O’Neil
Member of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival™ Organising Committee and Executive Producer and Host of Mr Gay World™ 2015 Cape Town & Knysna, South Africa. He is the owner of ClearEdition.com, a member of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival™ Organising Committee, became Director: Logistics & Sponsor - Mr Gay South Africa in 2011 - 2013, but was part of the company from 2010 - 2013. He was the Co-Executive Producer of Mr Gay World 2012. He is also Executive Producer and Host of Mr Gay World™ 2015 Cape Town & Knysna, South Africa.
Karin Sephton
Member of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival™ Organising Committee and Co- Executive Producer and Host of Mr Gay World™ 2015 Cape Town & Knysna, South Africa. Karin is the owner of the Wonderguy fashion range and also of KSCreations. KSCreations specialises in wedding/function stationery and gifts. She obtained a Senior Secretarial Diploma and worked in the corporate world before starting her own business in 2007. Karin is a member of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival™ Organising Committee since 2012. She became involved with Mr Gay South Africa in 2011 as a sponsor and was a Director of Finance and Admin from 2012 - 2013. She is also co-executive producer and host: Mr Gay World™ 2015 Cape Town & Knysna, South Africa.
Kosie Smit Kosie Smit hails from Fauresmith in the Free State. The platteland setting gave an innovative, creative and curious boy the opportunity to acquire a wide variety of skills. After completing his national service as singer and artistic creator, lighting designer and consultant for the National Air Force’s famous Canaries choir, he enrolled as a student at the then Pretoria Technikon’s Dept of Entertainment Technology. Studying all the technical rudiments required for theatre, he later specialised in lighting design. His talent as set designer, artistic conceptualiser and complete visual and creative all-rounder was quickly noticed. Kosie’s creative genius is highly sought after. It is not only his extraordinary ability to create visual masterpieces, but also his vast knowledge of the latest entertainment technology, plus his attention to detail, his originality and total professionalism that makes him so popular amongst showbizz folks. Kosie boasts an impressive list of over a hundred and fifty productions – ranging from local theatre, television, film and corporate work to international productions. He has designed sets and lighting for opera, drama, comedy, cabaret, musicals, recitals, television chat shows, series, films, revues, product launches, award functions, gala evenings and variety shows. These projects include artistic collaboration with some of the biggest names in our arts and entertainment industry. Since 2006 Kosie extended his talents and passion to producing theatre productions. Kosie was also responsible for directing and designing the 2012 Mr. Gay World™ Grand Finale as well as the Mr. Gay South Africa Grand Finales of 2010, 2011 and 2012. Kosie was also responsible for directing and designing the 2012 MRGW. Visit his website at www.kosie.biz to find out more or talk wit
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Wim Voster Script Writer
Wim Vorster has been involved in the entertainment industry since 1971 as actor, director, playwright, MC, stage manager and many more. In 1992 he received the highest single theatre award - The Piers Nicholson - for furthering theatre in the Free State. In 1993 he received an AA Vita Special Award for scriptwriting and adapting prose for the stage. In 2005, 2006 & 2007 his full-length works Skimmespel, Waterman and Terugkere were finalists in the Sanlam Prize for Afrikaans theatre. In 2010 he directed his highly controversial script Kruispad for the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Several of his oneacts are being performed by schools for the ATKV Tienertoneel competition. He was also responsible for the scripts of the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 & 2011 pageants. He was also responsible for the scripts of the Mr. Gay South Africa 2010, 2011 and 2012 Grand Finales as well as the script for the 2012 Mr. Gay World™ Grand Finale. Since 2012 he's been living in Heidelberg, Southern Cape, but is still actively involved in the Arts Festivals, script writing, translation and adjudication.
Gerrit Prinsloo Choreographer
Gerrit started his career in the entertainment industry in 2004 as head wardrobe buyer and stylist for the popular TV Soap Egoli after which he worked on productions such as Miss. South Africa and Huisgenoot Skouspel. He joined the Mr. Gay South Africa team in the re-birth year of 2009 and has witnessed the organization grow from strength to strength each year. Gerrit was also the choreographer of every Mr. Gay South Africa Grand Finale show 2009 - 2012 and Mr. Gay World™ 2012 in Johannesburg. Gerrit now produces Pan African launches for brands such as Cartier, Montblanc, Estee Lauder M.A.C Cosmetics. " I am proud to be a part of what is to be one of my career's highlights and I thank the entire Mr Gay World organization for this honour"
Philip Davel Philip Davel schooled at the Lady Grey Arts Academy where he is currently the Ballet teacher. He completed his National Diploma in dance at the Tshwane University of Technology (2007). In 2014 and 2015 Philip was the Assistant Choreographer and for the Lady Grey Passion Play, in which he also portrayed the role of Lucifer. He has performed in several balletic classics such as Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia for various professional and amateur institutions. Philip danced in the South African debut of Monotones II: Trois Gymnopédies choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton and produced by Lynn Wallis (2006). Philip danced with the South African Ballet Theatre in 2008. He has been involved in international educational exchanges, participated and performed in the Hong Kong International Dance Festival (2006), and taught at Kulturama, Stockholm, Sweden (2014). Philip’s passion lays within the education of the youth through the arts, enriching the lives of children with enthusiasm and love.
Vernondo Boshoff Photography
Vernondo Boshoff specialises specifically in high fashion-, commercial modeling- and fitness photography. Vernondo captured some of the biggest fashion events in the country including SA Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, he also works very closely with celebrities in the music, film and television industry.
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JUDGES 2015 Head Judge and Editor: DNA Magazine - Australia
Editor in Chief and Founder of DNA Magazine. Australia. Andrew Creagh is the Founding Editor of DNA magazine, overseeing production of the print, online and digital versions. He launched DNA independently in 2000 and today it is one of the world’s best-selling magazines for gay men. Andrew completed a Communications And Cultural Studies degree at Curtin University, Western Australia before relocating to Sydney. He has worked in street press, as an editor of gay and teen magazines, and with the groundbreaking photography journals Black+White and Blue. He has written standup comedy, and script supervised for feature films. South Africa in 2015 is Andrew’s sixth Mr Gay World™ event. “It’s a real honour to be invited to judge Mr Gay World™ again,” he says. “I’m always impressed by the courage, aptitude and creativity of the delegates. Mr Gay World™ reminds me that while some of our experiences are shared, every story is unique – and it’s a privilege to hear them. Mr Gay World™ is a feel-good moment on the gay calendar.”
Eric Butter
President, Mr. Gay World™ - Australia & Republic of El Salvador Eric is 43, has a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Aviation, Commercial Pilot’s Licence and Flight Instructor’s Rating. Eric lives in Sydney, Australia and founded Mr Gay World™ in 2008. He felt he needed to originate Mr. Gay World™ as an organisation that would create public performances that empower gay men to be the best they can be and be able to share their stories. His vision was to create a positive environment for gay men to become leaders of each of their nations, helping to create this global network of support to help combat homophobia.
Ricardo Amunjera
Mr. Gay Namibia 2013; 3rd runner-up Mr. Gay World 2013 - Namibia Ricardo Amunjera is a 31-year old Namibian human rights activist, past radio host and Mr Gay Namibia 2012. He was the 3rd runner-up in Antwerp at Mr. Gay World™ 2013. He is considered one of the first openly gay public figures in Namibia to have married his partner in 2013, albeit in South Africa as gay marriage is not legal in Namibia. He works for an uranium mine and use social settings within the mining environment to educate and sensitise his peers and subordinates on issues affecting the LGBTI community. He is a prominent and respected advocate on social media and uses this platform as a counselling couch to reach out to the global community. Ricardo and his partner has starred in two international documentaries for both Matrioka Filmes, a Brazilian production company, and Aids Alliance (London based ) as a further measure to educate and sensitise the global community. Ricardo’s philosophy has always been to create an environment to one day celebrate a Namibia free from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity - a Namibia for all its citizens.
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Kevin McDermott
World-renowned photographer - United States Kevin McDermott is a world-renowned photographer who lives in New York City. His photographs of men have graced the covers and editorials for DNA, Männer, and Spartacus Traveler magazines. His work has also appeared in the mens fashion section of The New York Times, Flaunt, Town & Country, Elle Decor magazines. His fine-art photographs appear in galleries and collections throughout the world. He has also started a boutique photography book publishing company called Ten Avenues Press.
Luiz De Barros
Editor LGBT website Mambaonline.com - South Africa Luiz De Barros is the editor of Mambaonline.com, South Africa’s most popular gay and lesbian news and lifestyle medium. He is also an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, writer, photographer, designer and communications consultant. He has considerable experience across multiple media; including film, television, online, print and other platforms. Having worked as a consultant with the NGO OUT LGBT Well-Being for more than five years, Luiz has become aware of the impact of stigma, shame and criminalisation on the physical and mental health of sexual minorities across Africa. Through Mambaonline.com he aims to keep South Africa’s LGBT community enlightened, empowered and entertained. Luiz lives with his fiancé in Johannesburg.
Frank Malaba Frank Malaba is an actor/ writer / human rights activist he trained in Theatre and Television Acting. Having been a victim of homophobia and political intimidation in his home country in Zimbabwe, he now lives in self-imposed exile in South Africa. Through Radio Today Outspoken he fast became a voice for gay and minority rights all over sub Saharan Africa. He has been sharing poetry since 2008 and is a published poet. His main poetry focus is on the human condition in Africa and also on the visibility of LGBTI people in Africa. He is in the process of creating a body of work in the form of a stage play that will challenge xenophobic and homophobic attitudes across South Africa and beyond. He currently lives in Cape Town, where he works for a hospitality and property company as Operations Manager. Theatre and creative story telling are his passion and he still pours a lot of love into them.
Stuart Hatton Jr. Stuart Hatton Jr. is Mr. Gay World™ 2014 and Mr. Gay UK 2013. Stuart is the founder of the ‘So What’ campaign whose mission statement is so simple, ‘Some of us have green eyes, some of us have blue eyes, some of us are straight, some of us are gay… So What?’ The ‘So What’ Campaign asks people of all ages, backgrounds, sexualities, nationalities and gender to take a ‘So What Selfie’ by writing ‘So What’ on their hands and posting on Social Media to help break down prejudice and discrimination. The success of So What has been international and he is currently working with the UK Parliament to take the campaign into the national school curriculum. Stuart is also a Professional Ballroom, Latin American and Classical Sequence Dance Champion. He has been a motion capture performer on the video game JUST DANCE which has sold millions internationally and he still continues to run his dance studios in the UK which has been a successful business in Great Britain for the last 14 years. Alongside this, Stuart has recently started out as a TV Presenter for Made TV and co-presents a show called, THE LOWDOWN on British TV. He is an international male model and seeks to further continue the LGBTI cause internationally through talking to the next generation through education, awareness and understanding.
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Mr Gay World 2014 Farewell… Well, what a year it has been, from 2014 to 2015, from Rome in Italy, to Cape Town and Knysna, South Africa… How time flies. I would like to personally thank the Mr Gay World™ Organisation for all their help over the past 12 months and in particular Mr Eric Butter and all at Nouba Events for allowing me to use the Mr Gay World title as a platform to launch my 'So What' Campaign on a global level. The ‘So What’ campaign mission statement is so simple, ‘Some of us have green eyes, some of us have blue eyes, some of us are straight, some of us are gay… So What?’ The ‘So What’ campaign asks people of all ages, backgrounds, sexualities, nationalities and gender to put aside their prejudice and connect together as a community to tackle homophobia and bullying by taking a ‘So What Selfie’. The So What selfie is a ‘selfie' with a positive message, by writing ‘So What’ on the palm of your hand and posting on Social Media in the hope that the next generation will grow up in a world where homophobia does not exist. From celebrities, to children, to Australia to The Philippines; the success of ‘So What’ has been international and I am currently working with the UK Parliament to hopefully, in the future, take ‘So What’ into the national school curriculum. I need to say a very BIG THANK YOU to my rock, Ross Hutchinson, who has kept me sane, grounded and makes me laugh constantly every day, without you I would not have gotten where I am today. I am so honoured to be able to help choose the next gentleman to follow in my footsteps and I am very much looking forward to mentoring him down this road until he is free to walk alone along his own path. It is a long and windy journey but as brothers we can change the minds of the world and to change minds about discrimination and prejudice is a great thing indeed. To all the delegates hoping to be crowned Mr Gay World™ 2015, The Finale is only the beginning; from there on in, THAT is when the true Mr Gay World™ work begins. Together, we will stand tall as brothers in arms, as one voice alone in a crowd, we may only shout above the noise but together, as a community, we will ROAR! Stuart Hatton Jr., Mr. Gay World™ 2014
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DELEGATES 2015 AUSTRALIA Name: Scott Fletcher Age: 27 Profession: Principal Security Consultant
BELGIUM Name: Jordy De Smedt Age: 20 Profession: Personal Trainer and Sales Manager gym
COLOMBIA Name: Jorge Alberto Escribano Pelaez Age: 32 Profession: Host & Actor
CUBA Name: Leonardo Piloto Gonzalez Age: 35 Profession: Music: producer, composer and Dj
CZECH REPUBLIC Name: Daniel Fröhlich Age: 20 Profession: Shipping worker and work at call centers
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Name: Alejandro Torres-Solanot Martínez Age: 26 Profession: Student, bartender, model
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FINLAND Name: Tomi Lappi Age: 24 Profession: Show and Ballroom dancer
GERMANY Name: Klaus Burkart Age: 21 Profession: Milk technician
HONG KONG Name: Emmanuel Mass Luciano Age: 35 Profession: Fashion Designer, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Blogger
ICELAND Name: Troy Michael Jonsson Age: 28 Profession: Bartender, Gay Rights Activist
IRELAND Name: Marcos Vinicius Barboza Age: 23 Profession: Personal Trainer
ITALY Name: Arziom Cristofaro Age: 22 Profession: University student
MALTA Name: Wayne Grech Age: 28 Profession: Hairdresser
MEXICO Name: Gabriel Jesus Naal Hernandez Age: 33 Profession: Asisitant Entertainment Manager
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NEW ZEALAND Name: Matt Andrija Fistonich Age: 24 Profession: Chief of Operations at Eikon Media Limited
PHILIPPINES Name: Nomer Yuzon Age: 42 Profession: Educator
SOUTH AFRICA Name: Craig Maggs Age: 25 Profession: NGO worker, Waiter
SPAIN Name: Jesus Martin Mรกrquez Age: 30 Profession: Model and dancer
SWEDEN Name: Anton Ljungberg Age: 21 Profession: Waiter, barista
URUGUAY Name: Luis Jorge Vicente Age: 29 Profession: Model
ZAMBIA Name: Siyathokoza Thabani Khumalo Age: 28 Profession: Buying and planning coordinator