New Zealand Wins Mr Gay World 2012

Photo Credit MGW/MGE - Aaron Comis

Johannesburg, South Africa - April 9, 2012 -  from the twenty-two gay men representing their respective countries in the 4th annual Mr. Gay World competition held in Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City on Sunday, April 8th, Andreas (Andy) Derleth of New Zealand was elected Mr. Gay World 2012. Andy will continue to carry on the vision and mission of the organization that seeks to fight the discrimination and stigma faced by the gay community in many countries today.  Mr. Gay World empowers and raises the visibility of optimistic gay men in a constructive dialogue with our fellow citizens.


PHOTO:  (L-R) South Africa, USA, New Zealand, France, Netherlands

Andreas (Andy) Derleth is an operations project manager of Warehouse Stationery in New Zealand.  Originally from Hassfurt, Germany has a Bachelor degree in business management.  Andy has a passion for travel and sports and participated in the 2nd Asia-Pacific Outgames and is very excited to be going to Antwerp next year for the worldOutgames.  Andy is in long term relationship and on the 11-11-11 he entered in a same-sex civil union in New Zealand. 

Other awards presented included:
Mr. Gay Swimwear - New Zealand (Andreas  Derleth);
Sports Challenge - New Zealand (Andreas Derleth);
Best Interview Challenge - New Zealand (Andreas Derleth);
Mr. Gay Formal wear - Netherlands (Thom Goderie);
Mr. Gay Congeniality - Netherlands (Thom Goderie);
Mr. Gay People's Choice Award - Philippines (Carlito Floro Rosadino, jr)
Mr. Gay National Costume - Philippines (Carlito Floro Rosadino, jr).
Mr. Gay Photogenic - Argentina (Gonzalo Enrique Bagalor)
Mr. Gay Outreach - Czech Republic (Tomas Fryda)
Top Score in the MGW Written Exam - South Africa (Lance Weyer)
2012 Eric Butter Philanthropy Award - Coenie Kukkuk
Mr. Gay World 1st Runner Up:  South Africa (Lance Weyer)
Mr. Gay World 2nd Runner Up: France (Remy Frejaville)
Mr. Gay World 3rd Runner Up:  USA (Kevin Scott Power)
Mr. Gay World 4th Runner Up: Netherlands (Thom Goderie)

Top 10 Final Standing:
5th Runner Up / 6th Place:  Canada (Thomas Egli)
6th Runner Up / 7th Place:  Hong Kong (Jimmy Wong)
7th Runner Up / 8th Place:  Australia (Benjamin Michael)
8th Runner Up / 9th Place: Philippines (Carlito Floro Rosadino Jr.)
9th Runner Up/ 10th Place: Czech Republic (Tomas Fryda)

In a spectacular grand finale at The Lyric Theatre, South Africa's member of the board, Coenie Kukkuk, known for being a gay advocate himself made the customary turnover to Belgium's worldOutgames Antwerp 2013 producer, Jerko Bozikovic, which will be the next host producer of Mr. Gay World 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium (August 1-5, 2013).

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