Auckland's Andreas Derleth has won the Mr Gay World competition in Johannesburg after beating 22 other hopefuls.
Derleth, 32, took first place in the four-day competition by winning various challenges including photos, sports, fashion, public speaking and local outreach contests.
The German-born stationary store manager told GayNZ.com last month that he was excited about the event and how it helped represent the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) community.
"Sometimes gay life is still stereotyped and having such an amazing event showing role models will add to the acceptance of GLBT people," he said.
First place netted Derleth $25,000 in which to spend travelling the world spreading a positive message about gay men and their lifestyle.
The competition, however, was not without controversy. Its message is one that celebrates gay men of different ethnicity, yet not one black African contestant made it to the final 10.
"We look for the best man, whether he's white or black or any other colour," Tore Aasheim, one of the Mr Gay World organisers, said of the result.
On the contest's website, it said the winner would not only have the inner beauty of confidence, self-assurance, charisma and natural leadership abilities, but would also take care of his physical beauty.
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