The competition was attended by friends; family; and supporters of the contestants, as well as members from the LGBTI community of the Mother City, such as well-known 'Spin Sister', DJ Mitzi; local drag performer, Fabulusha; the 2009 finalist and Bone Wear Model of the Year, Chris Mcgregor; Evan Tsouroulis of
Out Africa Magazine; the directors of
Mr Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd.; Barry Vorster, who took care of backstage operations; Hennie Crafford who acted as front-of-house; and Coenie Kukkuk, who was the MC of the event. Nelius Ferreira of Artist Warehouse sponsored the excellent singer, René van Reenen, who enthralled the crowd with her renditions of Shirley Bassey numbers like
I am what I am and
Diamonds are forever.
The judges were
Mr Gay South Africa 2009 finalist, Shahin Eskandar; renowned Brazilian fashion designer and previous coordinator of the
Miss Universe™ pageant in West Africa, Luiz de la Ja; Gary de Klerk, experienced
Mr Gay South Africa™ judge and editor of
Pink Tongue; and Blaine Shapiro-Dodds, Brand Executive of radio station,
Good Hope FM. The official regional photographer was Drikus Le Roux of Drikus Le Roux Photography, and the independent auditor was Heinrich van Tonder of The Number Crew.
The contestants competed in an interview section, which counted for 50% of their total, and in formal wear; jeans; and underwear by Bone Wear, the Official Underwear Sponsor of
Mr Gay South Africa™.
The winner, who was announced after the top five were called to the stage in matching black sports shirts with the South African flag prominently displayed, was André Lammers, 23, a drama student and part-time model, who is finishing his studies this year. First runner-up was 34-year old Errol Stroebel, food and beverage manager of the well-known Cullinan Hotel, who was also placed in the
Mr Cape Town Pride pageant, and second runner-up was Ernest Gravett, whose supporters made up a very lively first row of the audience. Wandile Mbunyuza of Khayelitsha, a volunteer worker for Health 4 Men, took the
Mr Personality crown.
Barry Vorster, Director of Information Technology and Media, said: “The Board of
Mr Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd. was thrilled with the support which the competition received from Cape Town. The directors also met with the two finalists, André and Errol, for an informal breakfast and were impressed with their enthusiasm.”
The first two, André Lammers and Errol Stroebel, both qualified for the Grand Finale of
Mr Gay South Africa™ 2010, to be held on 26 November in Johannesburg at a venue which will be made known at the official Media Launch and Celebrity Auction.
The winner, André Lammers, won prizes in excess of R20 000, including a R6 000 bursary from Official Learning Partner of
Mr Gay South Africa™, College SA; a R6 000 diamond and precious stones pendant set in white gold, from Official Jeweller to
Mr Gay South Africa™, CW Design Jewellers; a weekend away sponsored by Durban View Guesthouse in Durban; a voucher from Bone Wear; and the main prize, a cruise on the MSN Sinfonia to Mozambique from 15 to 19 November 2010, co-sponsored by
Mr Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd. and Official Cruise Sponsor, Alternative Travel. The runner-up, Errol Stroebel, also won a cruise on the MSN Sinfonia. All three won hampers from Schwarzkopf™, the Official Hair Colour and Styling Partner of
Mr Gay South Africa™, as well as CDs from Sony Music.
Mr Personality, Wandile Mbunyuza, walked away with a weekend for two sponsored by The Glen Boutique Hotel.
Persons interested in joining the four day cruise to Maputo and Barra Lodge, should email Leon Nel of Alternative Travel at
[email protected].
The
Mr Gay South Africa™ 2010 tour is this week headed for Pretoria, for the Benefit Dinner and Show,
Little Poof!, on 14 August and the North Regional Final on Saturday, 4 September at 20:00 at Brooklyn Theatre in Thomas Edison Street, Menlo Park, Pretoria. Guests are invited to visit the website,
www.mrgaysouthafrica.co.za/ for all the details for both these events, or they can email
[email protected] for bookings as seats are limited.