GALLERY: Mr Gay SA crowned
The overall winner of Mr Gay SA was recently crowned at a grand finale event.
A 25-year-old Joburger was recently crowned Mr Gay South Africa 2015. Craig Maggs beat out 11 other finalists at the Grand Finale ceremony at Emperors Palace.
Maggs works for an HIV and Ebola research NGO during the day and is a waiter at Beefcakes restaurant in Illovo, Johannesburg, at night.
He explained that as Mr Gay South Africa, “I would like to make a platform where LGBTI youth can be brought into contact with role models, to inspire them and help them through rough years,” he said.
Maggs added that he would also like to encourage more interaction through health and fitness-related programmes in the community .
The runners-up in the contest were Siya Khumalo from Durban, and Mortimer van de Westhuizen from Cape Town.
Maggs explained that he is honoured to have been bestowed such a title and that he intends to have his runners-up be part of his reign. “The way I see it, every person on that stage is going to be involved in whatever I do. We are a team that won and were chosen to make a difference in our communities,” he said.
Northcliff- based top 12 contestant Riaan Bothma was very grateful toward all the supporters and contestants who offered such a unique experience. “The competition was a great learning experience and the team of contestants were all amazing guys with great qualities. All of these guys really want to make a positive change in society,” he said.
Bothma also thanked the organisers for handling the finale in such a professional way. “The organisers did an exceptional job of including all of us in the past week and at the finale,” he said.
The event was hosted by media personality Anele Mdoda. The show also featured performances by Tamara Dey, Toya Delazy and Bo Denim, as well as former Mr Gay World Chris Olwage, who performed a Black Swan inspired dance sequence.
Maggs, who took over the title from last year’s winner, Capetonian Werner de Waal. Maggs will be representing South Africa at the Mr Gay World contest in Knysna and Cape Town in April and May.
