From: NewNowNext
Daniel Rodriguez, the 23-year-old model who snagged the crown at the International Mister Spain 2016 pageant in Playa de Aro last week, has publicly come out as gay in the wake of his major win.
The Tenerife native beat 47 other contestants on his way to the top, and will move on to represent Spain at the Mister International pageant in Toronto this fall.
According to ABC, it’s the first time an openly gay man has held the Mister Spain title.
Rodriguez came out officially in an exclusive exit interview with the outlet, and said he never considered coming out during the competition because he didn’t think it was necessary, or that it would help or harm him.
“The truth is I never asked myself that it was something necessary because I did not see it as a reason why I could not claim the title,” he said. (His interview has been roughly translated using Google Translate.) “I wear my sexual orientation naturally and hence did not say to not consider essential.”
The aspiring model revealed he’s been out to family and friends for most of his life and that he’s “never” encountered a problem relating to his sexuality. Asked whether he thought coming out would affect his professional relationships, Rodriguez said, “I hope not. I made very good friends with some colleagues and I wish that nothing changes from now.”
As the winner of a beauty pageant, which are very popular in Spain, Rodriguez will be put on a pedestal in the media and have to deal with his image being sexualized.
Asked for his response to people who think a gay man shouldn’t hold such a title, Rodriguez said “I do not understand why. A homosexual can be as masculine as a heterosexual.”
Congrats, Daniel!
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