A beauty pageant is a competition in which the contestants are judged and ranked based on various physical and mental attributes. Per its name, beauty pageants traditionally focus on judging the contestants' physical attractiveness, sometimes solely so, but most modern beauty pageants have since expanded to also judge contestants based on inner beauty— their individual traits and characteristics, including personality, intelligence, aptitude, moral character, and charity. Though typically perceived as a female-oriented competition, male beauty pageants also exist, as do child beauty pageants for youth.
Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth, it is one of the Big Four beauty pageants.
Idols was a television show on the South African television network Mzansi Magic, and previously on M-Net, based on the popular British show Pop Idol. The show was a contest to determine the best young singer in South Africa.
Mr Gay Europe is a male competition for gay Europeans about important LGBTQIA+ themes. Every year a new Mr. Gay Europe will be crowned, who will be an ambassador for the LGBTQIA+ community. It was founded by its former President, Morten Rudå and its current President, Tore Aasheim; and was hosted for the first time in 2005.
Mr. Gay International was the first international contest to select an Ambassador or spokesman to support the mission of the sponsoring nonprofit corporation, the Noble Beast Foundation. President of the Noble Beast Foundation is Don Spradlin, who founded and produced the first three Competitions with a team of dedicated volunteers. Carlos Melia, native from Argentina was the third International Mr Gay titleholder, elected and crowned in Los Angeles, California in 2008. The last International Mr. Gay titleholder was Pablo Salvador Sepúlveda from Chile. The competition has been de facto replaced by Mr Gay World.
Miss USA 2008 was the 57th Miss USA pageant, held in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 11, 2008. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Crystle Stewart of Texas was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder Rachel Smith of Tennessee. Crystle represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant, which was held in Vietnam, where she placed in the Top 10. This was also the first time in the pageant's 56-year history that two consecutive women of African Americans have been crowned.
Mister International is an international male beauty pageant that the Mister International Organization runs since 2006. Along with its rival contest, Mister World, this pageant is one of the two largest male beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions. Mister International Organization was Singapore-based owned and organized by the former president and late founder, Alan Sim.
Mr Gay World 2010, the 2nd Mr Gay World pageant, was held at the Nedre Vollgate 11, in Oslo, Norway on February 13, 2010. Charl Van Den Berg of South Africa, was crowned Mr Gay World 2010 by outgoing titleholder Max Krzyzanowski from Ireland. 23 countries and territories competed for the title.
Afrikaanse Idols was a special season of South African reality interactive show Idols South Africa based on the British talent show Pop Idol. In difference to the rest of the series this season was held entirely in Afrikaans as the host, judges and contestants did not speak English on the show and every song was performed in Afrikaans.
Although the set and stage design remained the same, the entire judging panel was formed new consisting of Afrikaans-speaking singers Mynie Grové, Taliep Petersen, who was murdered just a few weeks after the competition ended and media personality Deon Maas. The show also switched channels to KykNET, an Afrikaans sisters station of MNet and was hosted by boyband member Sean Else (Eden). The Afrikaans season was aired between the third and fourth English seasons of the show. Dewald Louw from Bloemfontein won the show. Before that he was also a contestant on the second English season of the show where he made the top 24. He also auditioned for season three but failed to progress from the first round. Next to a recording contract with Sony BMG, winner Dewald Louw also won a Peugeot 206, R50,000 from the ATKV, a Shure microphone, R3200 worth of prizes from Look &Listen, a laptop computer and a gift pack from Truworths valued at R10,000.
Mr Gay World 2011, the 3rd Mr Gay World pageant, was held at the Club MWAH, in Manila, Philippines on March 13, 2011. Charl Van Den Berg of South Africa crowned his successor, fellow South African, François Nel. 26 countries and territories were competed for the title.
Mister Gay Chile is the national integral beauty title for Chilean gay men. The choice of candidates is based not only on physical attributes. Communication skills are measured from applicants, their form of expression and, above all, the level of commitment of each participant with causes and values of the gay community. The last Grand Finale of this competition was in March, 2024.
Mr Gay World South Africa is a registered and trademarked competition founded in 2009 to present a professional competition for gay men in South Africa – a role model and a representative of which the entire LGBTI community can be proud of. Both the 2009 and 2010 winners, Charl van den Berg and Francois Nel, went on to win the Mr. Gay World title; Charl in Oslo, Norway and Francois in Manila, Philippines. The 2011 Mr Gay South Africa, Lance Weyer, was first runner-up when Mr Gay World was hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg in April 2012. Mr Gay South Africa 2012 was chosen at a glittering Grand Finale in Pretoria on Saturday 8 December 2012 at the brand new, state-of-the-art Atterbury Theatre at Lynnwood Bridge and would have represented South Africa at Mr Gay World 2013, in August 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium. He is 23-year-old Jason Rogers from Pretoria. Rogers has since resigned, citing work and study commitments preventing him from giving his full commitment to the title. The first runner-up, Steve Williams, took over the 2012 title since June 2013 and represented South Africa at Mr Gay World 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium. The 2013 title holder is Werner de Waal, representing South Africa at Mr. Gay World 2014 in Rome, Italy. The competition is defined by the organisation as the search for the ultimate gay male in South Africa. Mr Gay South Africa is a heavily promoted role in the country and the title holder takes his job of educating, informing and campaigning to the public at large seriously. The winner represents South Africa at the annual Mr Gay World competition.
Mr Gay World 2013, the 5th Mr Gay World competition, was held over 5 days in Antwerp, Belgium during the worldOutgames 2013, with the Grand Finale at Elckerlijc Theatre, Antwerp, Belgium on August 4, 2013. Andreas Derleth of New Zealand crowned his successor Christopher Michael Olwage, also of New Zealand, at the end of this event. 25 countries and territories competed for the title.
Mr Gay World India is a national beauty pageant that selects its winner to represent India at gay pageants globally, including to the annual Mr Gay World competition. The National Director and Producer of the organization is the director of Mist LGBTQ Foundation, Sriram Sridhar.
Wilco Mario Louw is a South African rugby union player for the Vodacom Bulls in the United Rugby Championship, formerly of Harlequins in Premiership Rugby. His regular position is tighthead prop.
Binibining Pilipinas 2016 was the 53rd edition of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on April 17, 2016.
The 9th edition of Mr Gay World took place from May 5–10, 2017 in Madrid and Maspalomas, Spain. 21 contestants from all over the world will compete for the title and become an ambassador for the LGBT community. The reigning titleholder Mr. Gay World 2016 Roger Gosalbez from Spain crowned his successor John Raspado from Philippines, at the end of the event.
The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival is an annual LGBTQ Pride carnival event and parade held in Knysna, a coastal township in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Events include their version of the Wigstock drag queen festival, a bear fest, athletic events, and an art festival. It is one of the country's largest LGBTQ events. Since its start in 2000 it has grown to be a significant event for the town culminating in the grand finale of Pink Loerie, Knysna Pride parade and its 1000-person after-party held on the final weekend with floats, performers, and DJs. The Knysna loerie is a green bird but the color pink has a long association with LGBTQ culture.
Wendelinus Hamutenya was Mr Gay Namibia 2011, one of two black Africans in the competition. Two weeks after winning the competition, he was beaten up near his house for the prize money.
Ireland 
South Africa 
New Zealand 
United Kingdom 
Germany 
Hong Kong 
Spain 
Philippines 
Australia 
Puerto Rico 
Guam 
