SOUTH Africa almost scored a hat-trick in the annual Mr Gay World competition when Lance Weyer of East London took second place.
South Africans Charl van den Berg and Francois Nel won the competition in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Mr Gay New Zealand, Andreas Derleth, was crowned Mr Gay World for 2012 in a packed Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City in Joburg on Sunday night.
The second runner-up was Remy Frejaville of France.
In a slick show hosted by actors and comedians Soli Philander and Cathy Specific, a total of 22 men from all over the world and representing all continents vied for the coveted prize.
This was the first time the competition was presented on the African continent, known for its prejudice and intolerance towards gay people, and it was the first time black Africans took part.
Involvement of gay Africans brought its own fraught set of problems and controversy.
Robel Hailu, who is studying in South Africa, was disinherited by his family after a radio station in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, announced his intention to participate.
Earlier it was reported that government pressure on his family caused the Zimbabwean candidate to withdraw.
Namibia's representative, Wendelinus Hamutenya, was attacked in early December and landed in hospital.
A lack of sponsorship and funding prevented delegates from other African countries such as Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya from participating.
There were also no representatives from the Muslim world and very few from Asia.
Weyer praised his country for supporting gay rights in forums such as the UN Human Rights Council.
Participation in this type of competition is a way for gay men to become positive role models in each of their nations and creates a global network of support to help combat homophobia.
Mr Gay World 2013 will take place in August next year in Antwerp, Belgium.
King of Mr Gay World 2012 crowned
SOUTH Africa almost scored a hat-trick in the annual Mr Gay World competition when Lance Weyer of East London took second place.
South Africans Charl van den Berg and Francois Nel won the competition in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Mr Gay New Zealand, Andreas Derleth, was crowned Mr Gay World for 2012 in a packed Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City in Joburg on Sunday night.
The second runner-up was Remy Frejaville of France.
In a slick show hosted by actors and comedians Soli Philander and Cathy Specific, a total of 22 men from all over the world and representing all continents vied for the coveted prize.
This was the first time the competition was presented on the African continent, known for its prejudice and intolerance towards gay people, and it was the first time black Africans took part.
Involvement of gay Africans brought its own fraught set of problems and controversy.
Robel Hailu, who is studying in South Africa, was disinherited by his family after a radio station in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, announced his intention to participate.
Earlier it was reported that government pressure on his family caused the Zimbabwean candidate to withdraw.
Namibia's representative, Wendelinus Hamutenya, was attacked in early December and landed in hospital.
A lack of sponsorship and funding prevented delegates from other African countries such as Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya from participating.
There were also no representatives from the Muslim world and very few from Asia.
Weyer praised his country for supporting gay rights in forums such as the UN Human Rights Council.
Participation in this type of competition is a way for gay men to become positive role models in each of their nations and creates a global network of support to help combat homophobia.
Mr Gay World 2013 will take place in August next year in Antwerp, Belgium.
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