Exclusive Q&A: The Mr Gay World 2023 Top 3

The winner of Mr Gay World 2023 was crowned in Cape Town on 27 October, with 36-year-old Troy Michael Smith, who represented Guam, taking the title.

In the days after the event, Coenie Kukkuk asked Troy and runners-up David Allwood (UK) and Dion Alexander (Australia) why they entered the contest, what their Mr Gay World experience was like, and what they thought about Cape Town, and South Africa winning the Rugby World Cup.

Troy Michael Smith – Mr Gay World 2023

Why did you enter Mr Gay World?

My platform is suicide prevention and awareness. When I read that Mr Gay World was placing a huge emphasis on mental health this year, I knew that I had to enter. There is still such an enormous stigma surrounding mental health and it’s only going to get better if we start normalising the topic. I am a suicide survivor, and I’ve lost many friends to suicide, including former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, as well as my best friend’s father.  My father is black, and I have identified as black my entire life. Statistically, African Americans are 20% more likely to suffer from a mental health illness. I was diagnosed with depression in 2018 and I’ve been getting treatment ever since. Through therapy, medication, and self-care I have been living a healthy, but difficult at times, life. I am proud to be the first African American to win this title. I didn’t only compete for myself. I competed for Cheslie Kryst and [the late Mr Gay South Africa 2011] Lance Weyer. These are two special people who were successful and happy, yet they are no longer with us. Being in a very dark space in my past, I can relate to what that loneliness and suffering feels like, and I want to do everything I can to help others stay alive and live a healthy life.

Tell us about that magnificent National Costume of yours!

A friend of mine who is a former Miss Guam, Russchel Blas, helped me come up with the idea. Once we decided what we wanted, I got in touch with Patrick Isorena who is a world-famous designer from the Philippines. He is the designer of the national costume for our current Miss Universe, R’bonney Gabriel. When I spoke with Patrick, he loved the idea we came up with and then he began to draw a sketch. Once I got the design, I was in love with it.

The Mr Gay World organisers state that it is not a beauty pageant. What is it then?

This is a competition to find LGBTIQ+ leaders who are ready and able to be a voice for our community and inflict change. It is a search for gay men who have been active in their communities advocating for human rights, and who have an active plan to take that advocacy to a higher level.

You impressed the judges and won the Social Responsibility section, which counted the most marks, 25% of the score. Tell us about your project.

It’s called “The Forward Project.” This is a suicide prevention and awareness program that advocates for mental health first aid trainings, as well as suicide prevention courses, to be required by all employers and in educational curriculums. Moreover, we advocate for LGBTIQ+ Studies to be required in education curriculums as well. The more people who understand the warning signs surrounding suicide, the more lives we can save. My message is; that no matter how dark of a place you may be in, there is always a path forward.

Why do you think the Social Responsibility section counts so much?

This category shows who you are, what you stand for, and what you can do. This organisation wants a person who has a vision to make a difference, and a plan to bring that vision to fruition. Mr Gay World should be a man who has the proven ability to raise awareness, advocate fiercely for their cause, and implement a clear plan to elevate their platform on a world level. This category is the most important because it’s a test to see who is ready right now.

You also won the Written Test section, which makes up 10% of the score. What was that about and why do you think this forms part of the competition?

To be honest, I was a little shocked I won the written exam. It was very difficult. Normally I’m very good at testing, but I guessed on a few of the questions. I think a written exam is a brilliant idea. It shows that we understand our community, as well as current news. Again, this isn’t a beauty competition. You need to be able to prove that you understand what you’re advocating for. You need to be able to prove that you understand what’s going on in the world. Mr Gay World needs to be able to speak on behalf of the LGBTIQ+ community and in order to do that you must know the history. The written exam tested us to see if we are prepared to carry the title. It’s one of my favourite categories.

Tell us more about yourself – what you do for a living, and what you are involved in. How might the winning the Mr Gay World title change or add to that?

I currently live in Anchorage, Alaska. I’m a realtor and a small business owner, and I serve on the board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Also, I own the Miss Alaska Volunteer Scholarship Organisation. I think winning this title gives me the confidence boost to elevate my professional career. I consider myself an over-achiever. I like to do the absolute best that I can with everything that I do. Winning Mr Gay World has ignited a fire inside me and I’m ready to shine that light.

What were your impressions about your host country South Africa and more specifically, Cape Town?

I absolutely loved Cape Town. All the hotel staff was incredible. The Uber drivers were very friendly. The views were incredible. I’m a lover of nature, so I loved hiking Lion’s Head and being outdoors. Every South African that I met was very nice. They are incredible

Considering that this and other LGBTIQ+ events and competitions don’t receive the sponsorships that similar mainstream events do, what are your plans with the title?

There is a lot of stigma surrounding the gay community. My overall goal is to help end that stigma. As far as sponsors, I plan to work tirelessly to get sponsors on board. This is much more than a beauty pageant. Once people understand what the Mr Gay World Organisation is about, I will be able to get them on board.

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup the night after the Mr Gay World final. What did you observe regarding that and did it give you more insight into South Africa and its people?

This was incredible. I was actually watching and filming with the hotel staff when the game ended. You could see the pride and joy in their eyes. The excitement was an emotional experience. Sports bring people together. When you have a sports team that wins a world title, it unites the country. I’m so proud to be a part of that experience.

Did you also have at least a bit of fun during the competition? What did you do that you enjoyed the most?

Absolutely. Climbing Lion’s Head was pretty cool. I love to hike and the view was jaw-dropping once we reached the top. We also drove around Table Mountain and got to see it up close. On my last day in Cape Town, I got two tattoos. One of Table Mountain, and one of South Africa.

What message would you as Mr Gay World 2023 would you like to give to members of the LGBTIQ+ community who are going through a hard time?

Don’t ever let anyone dim your shine. Always follow your dreams. No matter what you’re going through, please remember that there is always a path FORWARD. Oftentimes, we are marginalised and not respected. We have an unwarranted stigma surrounding us. On the contrary, our community is extremely talented and successful. Although we climb an uphill battle, don’t take that as a negative. When we achieve our goals, it makes us stronger having had to walk through fire to get there. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to use your voice and speak up. We may be marginalised, but we must never be quiet. Advocating for human rights is essential to inclusion and equality. Continue speaking up, loudly — it’s the only way we’ll be heard.

David Allwood – Mr Gay Great Britain & Mr Gay World 2023 1st runner-up

Why did you enter Mr Gay World?

I was attracted to the opportunity to connect with inspirational people from all over the world and share our work within the LGBTIQ+ community. I am passionate about making a difference within our community and this competition is an opportunity to push the reach all across the globe.
A huge perk was that the competition was held in Cape Town which is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit.

In which section did you excel in the competition and why do you think the judges chose you as the 1st runner-up?

I feel very proud of the work I did all week. I came up with all of the concepts for my runway looks and customised all three of them for the runway (which took weeks!) As a performer, the runway is a place I tend to excel. However, it’s the social responsibility campaign and written exam which meant the most to me. This is about all of the work that I do and the knowledge I have. If you want to make a difference to people’s futures, you need a good awareness of our global community’s past.

The Mr Gay World organisers state that it is not a beauty pageant. What is it then?

Mr Gay World is a conference for change and awareness. It’s a meeting of minds and a safe space to share stories and learn about yourself and the global LGBTIQ+ community. It’s a challenging and hugely empowering journey.

You impressed the judges in the Social Responsibility section, which counted the most marks, 25% of the score. Tell us about your project.

I set up Homoparody Queer Collective in 2020 as a way of helping friends reconnect in a more positive social environment. We have weekly LGBTIQ+ community dance classes for all levels of dance, we perform at charity events and Pride events and we also organise meet-ups and our own shows in queer spaces. The ethos of Homoparody is “power in togetherness.” This is also the name of the new campaign I want to launch as an international alternative with the same message.

Why do you think the Social Responsibility section counts so much?

I think it’s important to reward the efforts of those who are doing genuine groundwork within their communities. I was so inspired by many of the delegates’ work. We had to present our campaigns to the judges and each other. This prepares us for public speaking and highlights our communication skills as well as our campaigns. I also think this is a large percentage of the final score due to it giving the judges a glimpse of what to expect if we won.

The Written Test section, makes up 10% of the score. What was that about and why do you think that this forms part of the competition?

I know this is strange but I love to be tested as an adult. This test is a measure of how much we know about the world around us, the history of LGBTIQ+ rights and legislation and also asks how informed we are about the organisation. I think it’s a great element to the categories and for many it’s one of the hardest or most feared parts of the contest.

Tell us more about yourself – what you do for a living, and what you are involved in. How will your success in Mr Gay World impact that?

I’ve been married for seven years to my husband Peter. We live in Brixton South West London. I’m a freelance dance lecturer at Creative Academy, where I am head of Year Two and a senior lecturer in jazz. I also choreograph my own shows and lead a team of four in the management of HomoParody Queer Collective. Placing second in this competition will help me build our profile and has also inspired me further to continue my work through, as the vision statement says, “fierce advocacy.”

What were your impressions about your host country South Africa and more specifically, Cape Town?

I fell in love with Cape Town. I dread the colder months so being out in the sunshine with such kind and fun people was an utter joy. We experienced a lot of the things to do in Cape Town but I definitely left wanting to do so much more. My personal highlight was the morning hike up the Lions Head mountain. Absolutely breathtaking!

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup the night after the Mr Gay World final. What did you observe regarding that and did it give you more insight into South Africa and its people?

We had a lovely meal on the Saturday night and this was during the final game. The atmosphere was fizzing and we finished our last mouthfuls and joined a party on the top floor of the hotel. It was packed full of hopeful fans and the atmosphere was incredible! It’s so special to be there at such a momentous time and the celebrations and happiness were amazing to witness.

Did you also have at least a bit of fun during the competition? What did you do that you enjoyed the most?

I had so much fun! I promised myself not to sweat the small stuff and to make the most of every single moment in Cape Town. I definitely feel like I did that. I really enjoyed our boat trips from the V&A Waterfront, dancing with [Mr Gay World India delegate] Vishal and the other delegates whenever we got a chance and also the incredible hike up Lions Head.

Being the Prince means you might be asked by the Mr Gay World Organisation to stand in for the winner if he is not able to fulfil his duties. Do you think you are up to that?

I am absolutely up to that! I won’t pretend that I didn’t come here to win. I felt hugely proud of the work I had done all week and was crossing my fingers all night. However, Troy was the chosen one and I’m happy to serve as second in command to him.

Dion Alexander – Mr Gay Pride Australia & Mr Gay World 2023 2nd runner-up

Why did you enter Mr Gay World?

I entered Mr Gay World after winning Mr Gay Pride Australia in November 2022 to speak about my platform of ending homophobia in sport on an international stage.

In which section of the competition did you do well?

I excelled in the personal interview and social responsibility section of the contest. Being given the opportunity to speak about my experiences and the reasons for why I was competing allowed me to talk about the work I have done for the LGBTIQ+ community and my future plans.

The Mr Gay World organisers state that it is not a beauty pageant. What is it then?

A contest to empower delegates to make change for the LGBTIQ+ community while making international connections to spread their message globally.

You impressed the judges in the Social Responsibility section, which counted the most marks, 25% of the score. Tell us about your project.

My work in the LGBTIQ+ community is focused on ending homophobia in sports. Currently, I am working with the largest sporting code in Australia, the Australia Rules Football League (AFL), through the AFL Pride Collective to hold a fixture-wide Pride Round in the men’s competition. The collective is a group of LGBTIQ+ supporter groups for each club and there are currently 13 active groups out of the 18 AFL teams. While the final goal of the collective is to have a Pride Round in the AFL, we are also working with the players’ association to bring education to all clubs so they are ready for a Pride Round. My strategic goal is to take the Pride Round blueprint and spread it internationally. To get to the point where there would be implementation of a standard on LGBTQIA+ rights for countries to be eligible to host major events like the FIFA World Cup and even the Olympics.

Why do you think the Social Responsibility section counts so much?

Making an impact in our community is incredibly important, particularly for an ambassador of the LGBTIQ+  community. Too much weight to more aesthetically focused challenges would downplay the focus on making change, something that you realise just how important it is when you are in an environment with representatives from all over the globe. There are many rights that LGBTIQ+ people have achieved in many countries but the fact that representatives from countries neighbouring the host country, South Africa, have been disowned by their own families and countries for participating in Mr Gay World puts into perspective how important our work really is.

The Written Test section makes up 10% of the score. What was that about and why do you think that this forms part of the competition?

This section helps to assess who is active in the community and has some general knowledge about where we have been. It helps to find a well-rounded ambassador who can speak about the plight and history of LGBTIQ+ people and also where we have to go.

Tell us more about yourself – what you do for a living, and what you are involved in. How will your success in Mr Gay World impact that?

I have always been involved with sports in my life and, currently, I manage a family entertainment venue which focuses on competitive Tenpin Bowling, something I previously represented Australia in. My involvement with the Rainbow Swans – the Sydney Swans football club’s official LGBTIQ+ supporter group – and the AFL Pride Collective will benefit greatly from my top three finish by adding further legitimacy to our efforts. It’s also a platform to start working internationally on Pride Rounds and education in sporting codes across the globe to end homophobia in sport.

What were your impressions about your host country South Africa and more specifically, Cape Town?

I thought it was a beautiful city. The landscape and natural beauty reminded me of home. I do have to say what was quite confronting was the issue of homelessness and inequality. To have an Aston Martin and Ferrari dealership two blocks away from where there would be four beggars asking for food was extremely weird and I don’t think I got used to that level of inequality. It did remind me of the inequality that exists with LGBTIQ+ rights across nations and had me thinking about how we could better combat that issue.

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup the night after the Mr Gay World final. What did you observe regarding that and did it give you more insight into South Africa and its people?

What a fantastic time to be in South Africa! The people were rejoicing and came together like you would never believe, dancing and celebrating as one proud nation. I’ve made mention of the transformative nature of sports and why I believe ending homophobia in sports could be so unifying for not only LGBTIQ+ people but also the impact this would have on the wider community. For me, it was a beautiful thing to experience as I had witnessed my nation get behind the Matilda’s during the 21023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sport can capture the heart of nations and if we can use this to spread love and acceptance for our community we are going to bring a lot more people on board for the journey.

Did you also have at least a bit of fun during the competition? What did you do that you enjoyed the most?

A hike up Lion’s Head was my favourite fun activity we got time for. It was a breathtaking view of Cape Town and made me realise just how beautiful the country and city are.