Mr. Gay Europe Official Delegates 2009

Belarus Name: Andrei Charkas Age: 23 Height: 182 City: Minsk Occupation: Shop assistant and journalist Hobbies: Designing clothes Zodiac: Libra I would like to present my country in this competition. Belarus has never taken part before, so we have to start to join in this competition and show our slavic beauty.

Belgium Name: Cédric Fievey Age: 26 Height: City: Brussels Occupation: Media and communication production manager Hobbies: Music, cinema, eurovision, culture and city trips Zodiac: Gemini As contestant of Mr Gay Belgium, I would like to be contestant in Mr Gay Europe 2009. I would like to speak about some themes during the preparation and the election: HIV, coming out, homophobia. I want to be the Mr Gay Europe of all european gays.

Bulgaria Name: Radolav Iliev Age: 22 Height: 178 City: Sofia Occupation: Student at National Sports Academy Hobbies: X-treem Sports, travel and music Zodiac: Sagittarius I want be a role model for gay people in Bulgaria and the region of the Balkans to be open and to express freely their natural feelings and desires.

The Czech Republic Name: Martin Miko Age: 23 Height: 192 cm City: Častá Occupation: Bartender Hobbies: Dancing, Travelling. Zodiac: Taurus Nominated as national competition winner.

Denmark and the region of Øresund Name: Mitchel Nebelong-Ibsen Age: 20 Height: 180 cm City: Kastrup Occupation: I work for Stop Aids Hobbies: Dragshows, meeting new friends and travel Zodiac: Libra I would like to show people that I can be much more than just pretty and also I would like to tell people how important it is aways to have SAFE SEX. I work as a volunteer for Stop Aids, and i have learned so much about SAFE SEX and I want to teach everybody how important it is.

Estonia Name: Madis Räästas Age: 28 Height: 180 cm City: Tallinn Occupation: Waiter Hobbies: Event management Zodiac: Scorpio Urban legends tells us that gay men are girly, they are crazy about their perfect six-pack and shiny discoball, obsessed with Madonna and their new pair of Prada shoes and all they do is having sex. This is how typical people think about gay people. I would like to show people that we have more in our lives and are more than that "urban legend".

Germany Name: Dominic Meury Age: 23 Height: 180 cm City: München Occupation: Industry worker Hobbies: Computers, traveling, modeling, runway, fitness training, shopping, being with my friends. Zodiac: Libra I want to show what I can be a better person and I want all people to work together. I'm deaf so I want to show everyone I can have a complete life. I am direct, honest, open, understanding, I have my own opinion, and I want to work with AIDS and help people to understand that they need to protect themselves.

Iceland Name: Magnus Jonsson Age: 24 Height: 184 cm City: Reykjanesbær Occupation: Steward and spinning instructor. Hobbies: Travelling, meet new people and different cultures, fitness, friends. Zodiac: Capricorn I really want to help the gay community as much as I can and I have some ideas of how I can help them. For me it’s all about helping someone else that has not had as good experience on being gay. I went 2008 with one of my best friends to Budapest to see him take part in Mr. Gay Europe and it looked like a fun way to meet nice people and maybe learn some new stuff about other cultures.

Ireland Name: Jason Masterson Age: 23 Height: 165 cm City: Tallaght Occupation: Special Needs/Disability Care Assistant Hobbies: Swimming, gym, walking,cinema, travelling and spending time with friends Zodiac: Pisces I would like to be Mr Gay Europe because it's a great opportunity to do so much for so many. I love meeting new people - especially when I travel and sharing my experiences with theirs. I am flexible, easy going and click with people easily. Being part of Mr Gay Ireland was a great experience and I learned a lot and now having the chance to become Mr Gay Europe is going to give me the opportunity to help others and give me the chance to learn more. I think that's what life is about.

Italy Name: Antony Cortinovis Age: 24 Height: 183 cm City: Bergamo Occupation: Pizza man Hobbies: I love SCI Zodiac: Aquarius Participating in this competition is the opportunity for me to give out to Europe the happiness that is inside of me and to try to share it with my smile to all the people I'll meet in the competition, to all Europe and to the whole world! It's with this smile and this joy that I want to represent the European gay community, with a particular care to those countries where this reality still has yet to be accepted, like the one where I come from. Gays and lesbians will eventually be free to scream or simply tell their stories, their feelings, their thoughts without being judged! It would be very important for me to stay on this track since it would be the opportunity to focus more on the social aspects of this issue, carrying on my initiatives and increasing their visibility by putting loads of effort, tenacity, and love! So, what else to say? With my smile and your determination we can make this world even more gay!!!! Vote for me! Vote for me!! Vote for me!!!

Netherlands, The Name: Jeffrey Zevenbergen Age: 27 Height: 190 cm City: Ridderkerk Occupation: Interior stylist Hobbies: I am a passionate handballplayer. I also like spending some quality time with my friends and family (interior, cinema, cooking, going out, shopping, etc.) Zodiac: Scorpio I always knew I am gay and I never felt or have been treated any different. As I am a succesfull handballplayer and always have been surrounded by a “real men” I can tell. The reason I tell this is to show that it is possible to be gay without any prejudice. Beside this I think I am the right person to become Mr Gay Europe 2009 and I would like to participate in all activity’s which can help all Gay people to gain there rights.

Northern Ireland Name: James Smallman Age: 23 Height: 176 cm City: Derry Occupation: Waiter/Bar Man. Call Centre Agent. Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Sports, Community Voluntary Work. Zodiac: Aries I would like to be a representative for the Gay community across Europe and help in the struggle for equality for gay people in countries all over the world.

Norway Name: Walter Heidkampf Age: 49 Height: 184 cm City: Oslo Occupation: Senior Health Officer at Helseutvalge, an helath organisation for gay and lesbians. Hobbies: My sommerhouse, ancient Rome, Fashion, lifestyle changes. Zodiac: Scorpio Guess I´m a bit of an exhibionist, otherwise I wouldn´t be in this competion. The time has come when Mr Gay Europe is a mature, grown up, sober, HIV-positive man, who can match being serious, ”crazy” and keep his integrity at the same time. The gay community need role models regardless of age. I believe I can match that challenge with my life experiences. It’s about time for all of us to take a personal responsibility for our actions - and it starts with Mr Gay Norway becoming Mr Gay Europe! Giving me the title Mr Gay Europe gives me the opportunity to show an alternative lifestyle without drugs and alcohol. By sharing my experiences living with HIV, I can give support to people living with the disease and try to make gay men regardless of age, aware of that medication gives most of us healthy life’s, but it does not take away stigma, discrimination and criminalization. And in the end, being HIV+ is not a rosegarden. If being Mr Gay Europe in any way can be a help to work against homofobia and support other gay and lesbians around Europe, I´m here to help.

Palestine Name: Mukhtar Barakat Age: 28 Height: 179 cm City: The West Bank Occupation: Freelancer Hobbies: Fishing and camping Zodiac: Leo I would like to represent Palestine because I have lived long time hiding that I am gay. I am trying to break the psychological and cultural barriers.

Poland Name: Kamil Szmerdt Age: 21 Height: 175 cm City: Tychy Occupation: Bartender. Hobbies: Dance, Art, Music, Writing Zodiac: Libra I work hard on the gay scene for last 3 years. I’m active volunteering in every single charity organization. I’m not scared of new adventures. I’m open minded and hungry for knowledge.

Portugal Name: André Caldeira Rodrigues Age: 32 Height: 180 cm City: Lisboa Occupation: Entrepreneur / financial executive. Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, gym, reading, eurovision song contest, being with friends and relatives. Zodiac: Aquarius I want to take part at the MGE 2009 because I will be proud to represent my country in an international environment where I can make new friends and also share my views and thoughts on gay issues. Being MGE would make me available to contribute to several gay events as well as to help young homosexuals to assume themselves and not to repress themselves concerning their sexual orientation.

Romania Name: Andy Claudiu Postica Age: 22 Height: 180 cm City: Bucharest Occupation: Hair stylist Hobbies: Inline skating and swimming Zodiac: Gemini I would like to take part in MGE in order to get in touch with the European gay community. Becoming Mr Gay Europe would enable me to represent the Romanian gay community abroad.

Russia Name: David Baramija Age: 24 Height: 180 cm City: Vladimir Occupation: Landscape designer Hobbies: Growing orchids and sport (fitness) Zodiac: Libra I want to say to all guys from Russia: Do not be afraid to be yourself. The most important is to be a man and a person and to behave correspondingly. Also KVIR magazine chose me to represent Russia at Mr Gay Europe 2009.

Slovakia Name: Roman Vašek Age: 21 Height: 178 cm City: Častá Occupation: Receptionist Hobbies: Dancing, Singing, Pc, Travelling Zodiac: Gemini Nominated as national competition winner.

Slovenia Name: Robert Kulovec Mueller Age: 29 Height: 182 cm City: Ljubljana Occupation: I have a Uni Diploma in Biochemistry and in September I will have Master's degree in Biochemistry. I run a small web firm business. Hobbies: I collect antiques from art nouveau era. I am a member of Mensa society and the youth Organization of Slowenian writers society. I write poetry and do the intermedia projects. 3 times per week I work as a volunteer in a day centre for homeless people. Zodiac: Cancer I care about a better world. I believe in acts much more than in words and I believe all the intellect human has simply counts nothing, without a good decent personality. I am highly moral also in an aspect I would never hurt other people with my words or acts. I dont believe in ignorant society. My last Intermedia project Mutatics was a social awareness project about HIV transmission. I am an activist in Slovenija since few months back. Since the last verbal attacks in my neighborhood I have reached out to the media and spoken about how being gay is not a moral question and there is no need to argument a deterministic point of view, even when somebody chooses to be gay thats completely fine. And I was talking about that, that we should have more fairytales for children about two princes marry or how a prince becomes a princess. There is simply nothing wrong with that. I have created a group on facebook a couple of months ago, perhaps you check it out: Say no to homophobia.

Spain Name: Sergio Lara Age: 26 Height: 180 cm City: Barcelona Occupation: I am a psychology graduate, and have a music middle degree. Hobbies: I love all kind of music, from time to time I take my free time playing guitar and singing. Cinema is another of my passions. I also try to include the gym in the daily routine but I am always ready to leave it with a good trip.I like having a good group of friends with whom I enjoy talking, is more than a hobby, it is fair and necessary. And finally I will not forget mention outdoor seating and do nothing, I just love to dream and let my imagination run wild. Zodiac: Taurus I want to participate because I think it is a unique opportunity for several reasons, firstly the personal experience to meet new people which in turn are experiencing a similar situation to mine, on the other side open doors in the world of advertising and modeling but especially for representing the LGTB community of my country altough we are many and I am just another one. I think it has given me a unique opportunity that I want to take for the good of the community LGTB. In our position we can get more involved or simply have more influence over its situation. We are tired of asking rights to be equal in the eyes of the law but do not forget that we are all equal but we need some different benefits. From my experience as a worker at a center for testing for STDs for LGTB people I think that we need awareness about sexual health and have better conditions for it provided by public health and education. That´s why it is also essential that not only LGTB people come out of the closet but also HIV positive gay people do it in an appropriate framework, uncritically, without pressure, to reduce risk and improve quality of life. VISIBILITY IS NEEDED!. Why should I win? Fortunately that is something I have not to decide, but if I should I think I have a good physical image and knowledge to take the title and I would like make the most in all aspects as discussed and in many others who are coming.

Sweden Name: Mirza Muhic Age: 28 Height: 182 cm City: Stockholm Occupation: Merchandiser and salesman at Ralph Lauren in Stockholm. Hobbies: working out, tennis, my friends, music, movies, books. Zodiac: Leo I'm a strong and proud gay guy that originally comes from a small country (Bosnia)where being gay is not so popular. I currently live in Sweden now, but for many foreign gays here, it's still hard to come out and be themselves and have a normal life. I want to be an inspiration to them and perhaps in that way help them on their way of coming out!! I know how it is difficult, we've all been there!

Switzerland Name: Ricco Müller Age: 24 Height: 174 cm City: Zürich Occupation: Post production in the media FOCUSFIVE Hobbies: Fitness, Photography, ART-exhibition, I like to read, snowboarding, meditation, and travel. Zodiac: Taurus I think Mr. Gay Europe is a great competition, and I would love to be there. I want to present my home resort and deaf community.

Turkey Name: Halil Adem Said Age: 25 Height: 178 cm City: Bursa Occupation: Receptionist Hobbies: Music and sport. Zodiac: Leo I want to represent Turkey because the country gets more liberal recently. I hope my participation will bring more rights for gay people in Turkey. I want to change the world. I want to protect the nature, animals and all good things in the world.

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