Finalist 2011 – Casper Bosman
Name Casper Bosman
City / Town Bloemfontein
Province Free State
Age 28
Career I am a Fashion Designer and I specialise in woman’s bridal and evening wear.
Previous Competitions None
Why do you want to be Mr. Gay South Africa™ 2011? The Mr GSA title provides a platform and a LOUD voice which can be used to promote and communicate my beliefs of what it means to be a healthy gay man and a role model in terms of what our society stands for. Setting an example to young gay people about living life with integrity and to be truthful in every way. Most importantly being true to oneself without subscribing to the social pressure that mould so many of the gay youth of South Africa and abroad. As Mr GSA the message I would want to carry out is one of non-judgement in our gay culture, respect for others and oneself. I believe in looking at myself and the world through the eyes of my heart and not the eyes of my mind. Being a visible example in public view will give me the opportunity to be an example of my beliefs with sincerity and true conviction. A message has so much more impact if it is backed by a living example. I want to use this opportunity not only as a journey for my own personal growth but to take others with me on this journey. Touching as many people’s lives as possible through inspiration and education. I want to use this title as a platform to raise awareness of the issues that gay men in SA and Africa struggle with on a daily basis. There are so many people who experience the same challenges daily yet are so alone in their struggle. Uniting people with one voice to support each other and grow together towards the one thing we all strive for, peace of heart, mind and soul and most importantly to live life to the full. Experiencing all that this world has to offer without prejudice. My core message that I will carry forward as Mr Gay SA, that I stand for personally is that each of us should be true to ourselves and to the world in which we live, acting with integrity, respect, and without judgement, setting an example of which we can be proud of and work towards building a new found respect for our community and all its facets. I believe 2 things: everyone needs to be anchored on earth and be connected with God and only with this in place shall we be successful in achieving our dreams and finding our path to true happiness.
Which public gay figure, South African or otherwise, do you see as a role model and why? Adam Levin has touched a lot of lives since being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. He is a great example of how someone used his struggles and hardships for his own growth and the people around him. He encouraged change in many ways – the way the world sees the HIV epidemic and has forced the world and the gay culture’s attention on this serious epidemic using many platforms– to see things from a different angle – to embrace different viewpoints, Struggles either makes someone bitter or better – not just for himself but for those around him –ADAM went out and used his VOICE to change our world, used his pain for a purpose – a purpose driven pain that means something, Adam has used his every problem and hardship to become a teacher. A teacher about life – Every person has a different hiv in his or her life – he challenged people worldwide to look at their own pain and to do something purposeful about it. Everyone can‘t be like Adam, but every person has the power to touch someone’s life in a positive way.
Chosen charity to support Tsepo’s House in Bloemfontein that looks after mothers and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Web site / Blog http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=649613453
SMS Code SMS GSA 2 to 34008.Each SMS costs R2 – maximum of 100 SMS per Phone Number per day. E.g. SMS “GSA 2” to 34008.