Charl van den Berg, from Cape Town, won the Mr. Gay South Africa™ title in 2009, and has now been chosen Mr Worldwide Gay in Oslo, Norway. The competition was previously known as Mr. Gay World and the 2010 winner was announced on 13 February.
Charl and the other 32 delegates from all the continents of the world were judged over a four day period from 10 – 13 February, during which time they also met the (gay) Mayor of Oslo, and visited the Norwegian Parliament.
The Mr Worldwide Gay competition started its mission as a “twenty First Century beauty contest where the delegates represent their nation as the best spokesperson and embody the spirit of their nation".
The Worldwide Mr. Gay Competition is a series of events to help the judges identify a strong spokesman or Ambassador for the gay communauty. The Competition includes athletic tests and extensive interviews with the judges. Judging points are based on a diverse set of criteria including qualities like charisma, leadership, personality, appearance and communication.
The primary purpose of Mr Worldwide Gay is to identify leaders who will take responsibility of being a spokesperson not only in his own community but on a global stage speaking out for equal and human rights. Worldwide Mister Gay is a positive role model and will work on humanizing being gay in both the queer and mainstream media.
Before he left South Africa, Charl said: “I will be punting South Africa as the first nation on earth to include gay rights in our Constitution, but will also underline the difficulties LGBTI people still face in our country as well as in the rest of Africa.” According to reports from Norway, he gained great favour with the judges by saying that sexuality is a private matter. Maybe this will endear him to the current President of South Africa too, and we'll see him on platforms with Jacob Zuma?
Charl was accompanied by chaperone Wilco Stemmet, of Bone Wear, one of the major sponsors of Mr. Gay South Africa™ as well as being one of the sponsors of Worldwide Mr. Gay – a first for a South African company. Charl’s wardrobe as well as his national costume were designed by local designer Peter Bondesio and his formal suit was sponsored by GF Menswear of Fourways, Johannesburg.
Countries represented were Thailand, Northern Ireland, Russia, Canada, Ireland, Argentina, Poland, Mexico, Chile, Spain, Switzerland, Serbia, Italy, Norway, Hong Kong, China, The Philippines, Iceland, South Africa, Brazil, Belgium, Australia.

Pridebook.com and others have stuirred controversy about the fact that Charl has made a little "porn" video for Liberate Studios in the past, and we got a statement from him about this, which follows below:

FORMAL STATEMENT FROM CHARL VAN DEN BERG REGARDING LIBERATE STUDIOS

To the Directors of Mr Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd: Cor J. van Rensburg, Juan Lerm and Coenraad Kukkuk

I usually would not respond to situations like these as I feel they tend to stem from misinformation, or misinterpretation of facts and therefore don’t need any justification as it would not change the minds of those select few who feed into such ‘news’. But it is because it challenges the credibility of not only the Competition and its Directors, but also the owners of Liberate Studios and every person who was involved in the photo shoots, in front of the camera as well as behind that I now have decided to release this statement.
I was raised to not be judgmental or prejudiced towards anybody, no matter their background, race, sexual orientation, status in society, or jobs they hold for that matter. I have always strived to uphold these values I was taught as a child.
When I was asked if I would like to do a photo shoot for a new company started up by an acquaintance, I had to think about it carefully. After serious consideration I made a decision to go ahead with the photo shoot. I knew the situation and also took into account the possible consequences that might come from my decision. As I have said in my personality synopsis, I strive to live life and experience the human experience in all its facets and so I chose to go ahead with the shoot (not to mention that it would also help me out of some financial strain at that stage).
Some people might think this was a terrible mistake to have made, as I work for one of the most prominent gay-owned and gay-friendly restaurant groups in Cape Town and therefore find myself in the public eye most of the time. Although some people were surprised at my choice after seeing the material (which was displayed at the Studio’s launch at a popular Club in Cape Town), having known me for nearly three years, most of their views of me stayed the same and in fact I gained a greater respect from my peers for having the confidence to do it. Indeed I proved to them that just because I did a nude shoot, it didn’t make me less of a person, or mean that I had ‘stooped down’ to a substandard.
What I did gain from this experience however was a wider perspective and greater understanding about a section of our society which is often misunderstood, and therefore pre-judged by those who feel they know better. Fortunately I have learned in my life that you can not judge unless you have walked in the same shoes as those whom you judge. And if you do judge, then it is usually out of your own insecurities or inverted fears. I walked away from this experience a man who can now speak from an informed position, without prejudice towards anybody who has made this their livelihood ( please take note that I have not made a career out of this, but it was one experience I had). I am now able to stand up for that part of the community who does not always have a voice to defend themselves.
I know that it is the goal of this Competition and its Directors to select a candidate that can relate to everybody within the greater gay and lesbian society, no matter what your situation, or background or status etc. I believe that he should be somebody who speaks without condemnation, and who chooses to uplift those and support those around him in whatever their endeavours. I believe he should be somebody who is able to bridge the gap between differing mindsets and so bring consolidation to the gay community, who already has to fight so many battles to have a voice in this world. He should be somebody who is able to take a stand, unwaveringly and who is not moved by peoples opinions (we know how quickly these can change), but remains strong in his position as a leader and role model. This is why I chose to enter the Competition this year.
I do not feel it necessary to apologise to anybody or justify my actions. Those that choose to feed into such sensationalism tend to fade away quite fast and they soon become ‘yesterday’s news’. I will remain in my position, and I speak on behalf of Jacques Snyman and Karel Petzer (with their permission of course) that the photo shoots we did were maybe not something that is acceptable by the norm of society, but is a stark reality in our community (a reality which majority of gay men have no problem utilizing when the need calls). I do not see how this makes us any different to a person who for instance has his own private pictures on display in social networks like gaydar or majam or dudesnude, to name but a few, or who sends his private pictures via mms or the like.
I do not intend to step on anybody's toes with this statement but feel I have to bring to light the bigger picture here (yet while having the utmost respect for all parties involved).

I hope that this statement has served for the good of the Competition.

Kind regards
Charl van den Berg