New Mr Gay New Zealand Chris Olwage says he is overwhelmed at the win, and is determined to show people he has plenty to offer the community and is more than just a pretty face. “I feel truly blessed and humbled, but to sum up one particular feeling or word to describe it is to fall short of the entirety of what it is I feel,” the 26-year-old Aucklander tells GayNZ.com. “Let's just say I'm a ball of love and warmth at the moment,” Olwage adds. Chris (centre) flanked by fellow contestants Phil Chapman and Chris Meadows-Bonner The competition and bond was tight between the three impressive and community-minded men who entered Mr Gay New Zealand this year, and the two runners-up even pledged to help and support the winner in projects he is planning. Olwage is already known to many on Auckland’s gay scene as both a regular model and performer, and familiar in many New Zealand homes as the Black Swan on New Zealand’s Got Talent. As the Black Swan On the show he revealed he had in fact suffered from childhood obesity and bullying while growing up in South Africa – he told us more in a feature we ran in October. After a close call with ending his life, he decided to make a new start: “I changed the way I ate, I tried new exercises, I tried to be happy with my disposition and worked hard to accomplish the foundations that I would later build upon to be the person that I am.” Picture by Jani Shepherd While working on his body and being fit are important elements in his life, he says that is because he wants to be able to push himself and his body further and further when he dances. He has found strength and self-expression in dance and performance, and inspiration as a teacher, especially in teaching burlesque to women who he ultimately sees bloom in self-confidence. Overcoming his own early struggles was something Olwage drew upon when asked during the competition how he could help others as Mr Gay New Zealand, and he was clear he wants to be seen as more than what is on the outside. He wants to be known as someone who is able to commit to a cause and approach it from an intelligent and informed position. Chris is a big softie! (Yes we stole this from his Facebook page) “Winning this competition means that I have achieved another milestone in my life as a self-aware member of the LGBT community and, furthermore, now I have a platform as a gay, goodwill and human rights ambassador to potentially affect the lives of others who live in the darkness of self-denial, self-hate, hatred from others and fear,” Olwage explains. “I hope to achieve greater awareness of the issues that surround our community, aid the support of emerging queer youth in schools, maybe finding a possible permanent sponsor for the Mr Gay NZ title for future ambassadors and to hopefully work closer with the NZAF with the good works that they do. PIcture by Camera Man “Ideally I'd love to be the guy that people think of as having done a good job for the community... so I have to earn my keep and keep on going from where Andy [Derleth] left off,” he says. “I hope I do my title proud.” It was clearly a hot day ... Olwage is now expected to be invited to take part in the Mr Gay World 2013 competition in Antwerp in August as part of the World Outgames. GayNZ.com - 12th February 2013