In 2024, Andy Gardiner won Mr Gay Great Britain and has been been working solidly alongside two charities, the Charlie & Carter Foundation and Pride Action North, for which he has raised £6,500, while also campaigning for mental health awareness throughout his journey.
Since winning the coveted title, Andy’s work will continue with mental health and suicide prevention charities. He also initiated Newcastle’s first LGBTQ+ dance and fitness program Homotiv8, which provides an inclusive and safe space for queer people to exercise. He can be seen sleighing this month’s cover, check it out HERE.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved with Mr Gay GB…
I’m Andy, 39, from Leeds and moved to Newcastle after living in London for 12 years as a performer.
I work freelance in the arts and fitness industries wearing many different creative hats. I have a company that has a focus on arts and mental health specifically through dance and music
Mr Gay GB was never on my radar. I knew very little about it. There was a provocation, a little nudge and I entered. I knew when I entered, I would use the platform as an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health wherever I could.
Congratulations on winning! How was the competition overall?
Thank you so much – I really didn’t see it happening. The competition was intense and took more commitment than I initially expected. Balancing everything with my company work (Society of Strays) and freelancing while advocating for mental health awareness, including some personal life adjustments, was at times overwhelming. But if I’m in, I’m in!
I became very close to the charities, the Charlie & Carter Foundation and Pride Action North, and am moved by their work stories and efforts. Fundraising took a lot of time and creativity, and I put a lot of pressure on myself. For about four months, I was just trying to keep up! I’m especially thankful for everyone who took part in my fundraisers or donated, you made a huge difference to so many lives.
I got along really well with some of the guys. A few of us grew really close, especially Jordan and Tom – we joke now about “name a more famous trio,” and they even came up to Newcastle for Halloween. They were genuinely supportive; those backstage moments are some of my favourite memories.
What would you say to others hoping to enter next year?
You will lose your summer, this was said to me by the previous year’s winner Paul, he is such a diamond and gave me a lot of time.
Your runways also matter, get help with them (if you’re anything like me), it’s an opportunity to be creative, you’re being seen, be seen looking great! Be sure of yourself, your worth and make genuine connections.
It’s so obvious when someone is disingenuous or transactional. Competitions can bring out the worst and best in people. Bring your best self.
You’ve been working with suicide and mental health charities, and hope to continue to do so. Why are these causes so close to your heart?
It’s all lived experience, I’ve been there, but I’m here now, and it has changed me as a person. It also doesn’t define me and shouldn’t hang around my neck like an albatross for the rest of my life and neither should my mental health journey. I deserve happiness now and so do others that have been through or are breaking through in their way. I want to help support that in any way I can. That’s why I am aligning myself with these charities.
Poor mental health is also such a huge problem in the queer community. It’s time to start unpacking some of that and getting to the root of the cause because we are losing amazing people and or they’re struggling really badly.
Without sounding too trite I think being kind shouldn’t be a strategy but a way of life. We could all find time to check in and check ourselves a little more. It costs nothing.
You’ve started Newcastle’s first LGBTQ+ dance and fitness programme ‘Homotiv8’. Can you tell us a bit about that?
One of my fundraisers for Pride Action North was ‘Homotiv8’, which I think is Newcastle’s first queer dance fitness programme. It’s dance fitness and is disco meets pop. I wanted to create a safe space for queer people to train. As a PT I recognised there are a lot of barriers for LGBTQ+ people and fitness.
You currently live in Newcastle. What’s the scene like up there?
There is a brilliant drag scene up in Newcastle. MX Drag runs at the same time as Mr Gay GB so I was able to meet so many local drag performers that were so supportive and lovely. They also became really good friends too. .
Any plans for 2025?
Mr Gay Europe 2025 will take place during Amsterdam Pride and I’m considering this. I would love to see Amsterdam Pride and the parade on the canal.
I have been invited to some Prides across the UK so do come say hi if you see me about.
I will also be leading on some of my own arts projects with young people in the North East surrounding climate anxiety and wellbeing through a new outdoor show called ‘No Plan Bee’. It’s about a bee colony in decline with an opera singing beat boxing Queen Bee, and will have a lot of dance, music and family fun, whilst hitting some prevalent issues like sustainability and community.
Any Christmas plans?
I am a twin and he lives in Vegas, he’s back this Christmas so I will spend as much time as I can with him and family. Hopefully find some time to go to some nice parties and maybe a kiss under the mistletoe would be nice.
Any New Year’s resolutions?
To continue putting my wellbeing first and prioritise my peace. I want to make more of a fitness commitment by tracking my training and intake more seriously. I also for the first time want to get out to Vegas and see my twin, I turn 40 this year so life begins as they say! Who knows what’s in store I’m ready for it.
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