Louw Breytenbach wins the Mr Gay World 2021 title! Image via Facebook Louw Breytenbach
Louw Breytenbach brings home the Mr Gay World 2021 crown! [photos]
‘The crown is in Africa for the first time in a decade!’: Louw Breytenbach walked away with the Mr Gay World 2021 title on Saturday 30 October.
Louw Breytenbach wins the Mr Gay World 2021 title! Image via Facebook Louw Breytenbach
Louw Breytenbach made history on Saturday 30 October when he became the third South African to be crowned Mr Gay World. Breytenbach beat out nine other contestants from across the world for the crown during the virtual crowning and he hopes to make a difference on the African continent with the title.
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WHO IS LOUW BREYTENBACH?
Louw Breytenbach is from Boksburg, Johannesburg, and is the director of the National Arts Association of South Africa and the owner of the LALT House of Growth, a drama school that specialises in talent development. Breytenbach founded the Boksburg drama school in 2012.
The 32-year-old actor was crowned Mr Gay World South Africa in May this year. Taking to Instagram to celebrate the achievement, he shared that it was one of the most special moments of his life and dedicated himself to driving change for mental health, equality and injustices facing the LGBTQI+ community.
During the pageant, he addressed the spike in LGBTQI+ hate murders saying the community has to do more than creating a hashtag.
“And if you tonight don’t even know what the letters in LGBTIQA+ stand for, then you are part of the problem,” he passionately highlighted.”
MR GAY WORLD 2021
Mr Gay World 2021 was held between Saturday 23 October and Saturday 30 October. The pageant was held virtually due to COVID-19. According to the website, the pageant includes various photoshoot challenges and a stage competition where one must show an interest in the world around him, authenticity, and leadership skills amongst other qualities.
Louw Breytenbach was crowned Mr Gay World 2021 with Joel Rey Carcasona from the Philippines taking the first runner-up spot and Joshuan Aponte from Puerto Rico taking the second runner-up.
Breytenbach also won the Mr Photogenic, Personal Interview and Viewers Choice 2021 awards at the pageant.
For the first time, Mr Gay World 2021 will reign consecutively with Mr Gay World 2020 (Kodie Macavan from the Philippines) as there was no pageant held last year.
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LOUW BREYTENBACH’S HEARTFELT MESSAGE
Louw Breytenbach took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt message on his Mr Gay World 2021 win, highlighting all the hardships he has had to overcome throughout his life.
“12 years ago I tried to commit suicide a third time.. 5 years ago I was in a life-altering car accident which was highly publicised and landed me in a mental health facility. Then I made the papers for my weight struggles and closing businesses in lockdown and so many were shocked that a year ago I cleaned houses to make ends meet and keep my staff employed.”
“I am so blessed and thankful to every person who made this possible. The crown is in Africa for the first time in a decade!”
“69 countries in the world still criminalise homosexuality and 29 of them are in Africa — I went to be a driving force to change this and challenge this along with my existing charities.”
