Manindra Singh Danuwar, also known as Manil Singh, will be Nepal’s first ever delegate to Mr Gay World.

The 29-year-old had bagged the title of Mr Gay Handsome Nepal 2017, the second edition of the competition organized by Blue Diamond Society (BDS), in December last year. He will be Nepal’s first representative to be competing for the title of Mr Gay World this year.

“I feel honored that I will be representing the country at the global platform. I am looking forward to be part of the competition as I will have an opportunity to let the world know about the status of LGBTIQ community in the country; and also, I will be able to know about the same in other countries”, an excited Manil told NeoStuffs. “Nepal has been the only country in Asia to have been active in the progress in LGBTI inclusion on country’s national policy. We are possibly the only nation after South Africa and Ecuador to have given a legal status on constitution on 3 different articles as well as the only country after Australia and New Zealand to have given a legal status on the Gender status mentioning “Others”.”

Originally from Sarlahi, Manil currently lives in Shanti Nagar in the capital. Currently actively engaged in LGBTIQ activism, he is also engaged in advocating about indigenous & ethnic communities of Nepal as he serves as the Deputy General Secretary of Nepal Indigenous Nationality Student Federation. An undergraduate student of Psychology and Social Work, he works as the In-reach Worker on HIV Prevention Project of Save The Children – Global Fund in collaboration with BDS.

Manil, who stands 5’11”, will be competing with around 20 other delegates in the tenth edition of Mr Gay World, that is scheduled to take place in Knysna, South Africa from 20th to 27th May. The competition will be held during the Pink Loerie Festival, which is considered to be Africa’s biggest LGBTIQ+ cultural festival.

“Mr Gay World is not a beauty contest as many confuse it to be, but rather an event to unite countries from around the world with men who availed them to be a role model, leader and symbol of change”, a description of the event reads. “You being able to attend Mr Gay World means that you have the freedom or a certain amount of freedom to live your sexuality out and be yourself, however there are still millions of people living in fear for being gay and that is your challenge and goal as a Mr Gay World to help the world understand the LGBTIQ+ lifestyle and who we are.”

Headquartered in Australia, Mr Gay World was formed in 2009 by the founders Eric Butter of Australia, Dean Nelson of Canana and Tore Aasheim of Norway. The 9th edition of the competition was held in Spain last year where John Raspado of the Philippines had bagged the title.

The public voting for this year’s competition has now been opened. Click HERE to vote for Manil.