What is your take on the Mr Gay World

You be the Judge, Do these 21 delegates of the Mr Gay World contest all look alike, and do these really represent the whole community?

To me they all fit the cookie cutter image. Seven of the twenty-one don't fit the twink image. They are all young, there are a few that is over 30, shocking isn't it. However I feel the LGBT isn't fully counted for.

During the stage competitions and particularly in the personal interviews, the jury will focus on the delegate who:

shows an interest in the world and people around him;
displays patience, has a compassionate and considerate nature;
embraces change, or things and people different from his own frame of reference, experience or cultural background;
can articulate his thoughts and conduct an intelligent conversation;
has a basic innate charm and sparkle;
is special, and authentic;
has poise and is secure with himself, without coming across as arrogant;
is the ambassador that his nation and local community is proud of;
can be a diplomat of goodwill;
has natural leadership skills;
he inspires his peers and people around him;
is willing to take risks and become something larger than he had imagined;
is willing to have fun, push his personal comfort zones, and meet many wonderful people around the globe and be part of a very select and special group of men.

this is what I have a problem with,

The delegate will treat his body as his temple and will be active and outgoing. He will have impeccable grooming standards

So one must be fit, does that mean if one as a few extra pounds that they are not fits, now I'n not talking about those that may be very large, but those who may have love handles.. Grooming Standards?? So I guess this mean that they don't want to see much face hair and or body hair. For what I can see only two has facial hair, and it seems that all have smooth bodies. I guess waxing is a must.

However what will these 24 guys look like the day of the contest. All will be shaved have all body hair removed.

During the stages of the competition, and particularly in the personal interviews, the juries will focus on a man who:
- shows an understanding of the world and people around him
- of how he can help contribute to a more equal and respectful society for all;
- has respect for a range of views, but has confidence in expressing his own, when pursuing justice and well being for gay people in all societies;
- embraces cultural, linguistic, ability, gender, age, faith and sexual orientation diversity as norms to be promoted in a respectful world;
- can learn, articulate his thoughts and conduct an intelligent conversation even with people who do not share his views or values;
- could be the man any group or company would like to have as their representative;
- can be an ambassador of goodwill between all communities, by being visible, inspiring confidence and reinforcing understanding of the richness of cultural difference globally;
- is confident in his own values, attributes and opinion.- is respectful and careful of his appearance and well being.

How many of our community leaders and icons really fits this, i can think of one member of our community who embodies all the above, but he if was to run He would not even make it to the finals.

These so called contest are about looks only and nothing more then that.

The Mr. Gay World Pageant utilizes the concept of a 'beauty contest' to raise the self esteem and visibility of gay men internationally. The man eventually selected will join the ranks of the many positive role models in the international gay community and will help contribute to breaking the negative stereotype of being gay or different, which is used to justify lesser forms of human rights for gay people, an experience shared by many throughout the world.

Well who ever is chosen will not break one stereotype, that in the gay community it all about looks. Going by who ever wrote the above line, it means that as gay men we don't have self esteem unless we all look alike, that we must all be the same to have self esteem. Positive role models in the LGBT community don't need to be models at all. Which seem to the a requirement in these contests.