The month of June is recognised nationally as Cancer Survivor Month, Pride Month as well as the month when we commemorate June 16.
This gives 28-year-old cancer survivor and second runner-up of the Mr Gay World South Africa pageant, Shanon Kannigan, more than one reason to celebrate.
Fighting psychological and physical battles is nothing new for the Actonville resident who sat with the City Times to talk about his life experiences and plans.
Childhood
Shanon was born and raised in Actonville. He described the experience as challenging as people were not welcoming towards the LGBTQ+ (which refers to anyone who is non-heterosexual or non-cisgender, instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.) community.
“I could not openly be who I was because I was afraid of what other people would say.”
It was only after he turned 21 that he was able to come out and that was because his mother had asked about his sexuality.
“My mother dragged me out of the proverbial closet and has been very supportive ever since.”
After his stepfather died, he had to take the role of being the breadwinner in the house on an intern’s stipend.
Through all the hardships, he managed to secure a managerial position in the banking industry at a young age.
Mr Gay World South Africa
The Mr Gay World South Africa pageant was hosted on May 21 at the Galleria conference and event venue in Sandton, Johannesburg, where Shanon bagged the Crowd’s favourite title and second runner up.
“In the LGBTQ+ community, there is a lot of body dysmorphia, whereby people feel that if you are built in a certain way you are not beautiful or handsome.
“Being part of Mr Gay World South Africa, there was a lot of representation of all shapes, forms, and colours.
“This allowed us to relay the message that no matter what you look like you are still beautiful and you are more than enough.
“I have had my share of weight issues and joined the gym as well as trying unhealthy methods to lose the weight. After an embarrassing incident, I decided that I needed to love myself, look at myself in the mirror and encourage myself.”
After competing in the pageant Shanon highlighted that he received a lot of support on social media, as parents came forward to thank him for sharing his issues on his weight.
“We have a lot of full-figured women in my family and my message to them and others who look like them is that you are gorgeous the way you are and you do not need to lose weight to be gorgeous.”
Pride month
June is a month-long celebration among the LGBTQ+ community, where they come together to commemorate love, diversity, acceptance, and unashamed self-pride.
“Pride Month is a celebration and for us to say thank you to those who have led the way for us.
“2021 is such a perfect time to come out as there are so many laws and regulations that protect us. In the past when someone made fun of a queer person it would go unseen. We are now protected from hate crime, however, we still have a long way to go.”
Surviving cancer
In 2017 Shanon was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a type of lymphoma in which cancer originates from a specific type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Symptoms may include fever, night sweats, and weight loss.“
It all started when I had an unusual cough that would leave me out of breath, I went to see the doctor and he sent me for a computerised tomography scan (a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body), which showed that I had growths on my intestines.
“I went through chemotherapy and the experience is unexplainable as it took everything I had.”
Shanon has been in remission since 2019.
“I have learned to look at life from a different view and to see every day as a new blessing.
Through the prayers and support from the people in my community, I was able to pull through.”
Plans
As the second runner-up of the Mr Gay World South Africa pageant, he has a new platform to shine some light on body positivity as well as starting a recruitment agency for the unemployed youth in the community.
“The biggest community problem we face is unemployment among the youth.
We want to educate the youth on what to do when they go into an interview.
“We also looking at hosting a Mr and Miss Actonville pageant.
My experience since taking part in pageants has only been positive as it built my confidence. I learned how to take care of myself and speak confidently.”
He added that he would like to allow the youth to live and fulfil all their potential.
Shanon lives by the motto: We are all a beautiful mosaic made of broken pieces and wants to encourage all young people to give their best, be free, and love themselves.
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