Eyes on the prize

JOBURG – Craigpark resident, clothing designer, and manager of an Illovo restaurant, Gordon Grieve is not just a pretty face.

Grieve made it into the top 10 finalists in the Mr Gay SA competition, and will compete for the title at the finals in Cape Town on 13 December.

“I’ve been in pageants since I was young, and Mr Gay SA is one of those ultimate pageants. It provides an amazing platform to raise issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” he said.

Grieve said the competition was not a typical beauty pageant, but a holistic quest for the country’s “ultimate gay role”.

“The winner must have a healthy body and mind, a career, and a well-rounded approach to life. The winner must be a role model,” he said.

Each finalist must also adopt a LGBT-focused charitable cause and raise funds for it.

Grieve said should he claim the title, he would put his efforts into highlighting the issue of “corrective rape”.

“I want to see rape counselling centres open around the country, and I want to lobby our lawmakers to make a distinction between rape as an act of violence, and ‘corrective rape’ as a hate-crime,” he said.

Grieve spent his childhood in Krugersdorp and completed his schooling at Hoerskool Bastion. It was during his school days that he got involved in the pageant world.

“When I left school, I wanted to study fashion design, but I ended up working for a bank for a few years. I used my first pay cheque to buy a sewing machine, and started designing and making dresses as a side-line. Fashion has always been my first love. I’m self-taught, and hope that, by mid-2014, to have my own studio and clothing range,” he said.

Grieve said there was neither fame nor fortune to be gained in the competition.

“It’s not about making a significant change to my life. This is more about what I can give. I’m setting out to make a difference,” he said.

To vote for Grieve, visit his Facebook page and follow the link.

Details: Facebook: Gordon Grieve 4 Mr Gay SA 2014