Mr Gay Wales hoping for success in Europe contest
A RHONDDA man who became Mr Gay Wales in June – and the first-ever physically-disabled Mr Gay winner and delegate – will represent Wales in the competition’s European stage.
Paul Davies, 32, from Treherbert, will fly the flag for Wales in the 10th Mr Gay Europe competition, which starts on Friday in Stockholm, Sweden.
The seven-day competition will end in Oslo, Norway, on August 5, and Paul will be judged on a number of factors including sports endurance, his conduct in front of the media and an interview process.
The former Ysgol Gynradd Ynyswen and Ysgol Gyfun Cymer student is currently a news anchor for LGBT News provider Pinksixty News, and a regular fixture on Made in Cardiff’s television programme Made with Pride, while he is also a marketing and PR manager.
He also raised more than £1,000 in seven days for Mad Trust’s West End Bares charity.
In being crowed Mr Gay Wales last month, Paul became the first physicallydisabled Mr Gay winner.
He has been disabled since birth, when his umbilical cord tightened around his neck which stopped the growth of his hand. Speaking about the competition, Paul said: “The first big day of the competition is on Satur- day, which is at the Pride event in Stockholm.
“It’s one of the biggest Pride events, and not just promoting LGBT but the whole community is involved, and it’s all about equality and diversity.
“And that’s what the competition is about, too, and what every one of the entrants is working towards.
“We then move to Oslo, to this building in the mountains shaped like a UFO! We’ll do sports endurance – which I’m dreading, but it should be great fun. We’re also judged on how we hold ourselves in front of the media, when I’ll be asked about what I want to be for the LGBT community. There’s also a photo shoot, so there is a beauty pageant element to it.”
Paul said he can’t wait to represent Wales, and was proud to make history by becoming the first physically-disabled Mr Gay Europe entrant.
He added: “I’m still up in the air after winning the Welsh competition and everything leading up to this has been crazy.
“I feel like I’m a winner already, being the representative from Wales. I’m from a small village in the valleys, and I’ve not got the perfect body and I’m not a pin-up model. But I’ve got charisma and I work hard.
“I’m also showing that the disabled community are a force to be reckoned with – and hopefully I can show people with disabilities that they can achieve.”
And Paul needs your votes to be crowned Mr Gay Europe, with the winner becoming the competition’s ambassador across Europe.
“Voting is open until August 4 and we find out who wins on August 5,” Paul added.
“It’s a split vote between the judges and the public, so people can really make the difference. You can vote once every 24 hours online.”
To give Paul your vote, visit www.mrgayeurope. com/vote