New Zealander declared Mr Gay World

Andreas Derleth of New Zealand with his trophies during the grand finale of the Mr. Gay World 2012 competition, in Johannesburg yesterday (AP)

New Zealand's Andreas Derleth has been crowned Mr Gay World, after a contest in Johannesburg that organisers said aimed to challenge homophobia throughout Africa.

Many of the contestants faced an uphill struggle even to make it to the finals – after Mr Gay Ethiopia entered the contest, his father cut off all communications. Mr Gay Zimbabwe withdrew, fearing the publicity was making life difficult for his mother. Namibia's representative, Wendelinus Hamutenya, said that although he was disappointed to lose to Mr Derleth, 32, he would return home to fight for gay and human rights.

AP