Review: The Mr Glory Grand Final

After two months of weekly heats, performance legend Jonny Woo and incomparable drag DJ John Sizzle brought the inaugural Mr Glory competition to a hot sweaty, sticky, wet close last week. (As if it would ever have been staged any other way).

East London’s shining light of queer performance that has defied the rolling tide of gentrification presented its acidly acerbic take on the gay male beauty pageant to a packed crowd. There’s plenty more about it in the latest issue of Attitude, out in shops today (July 22), in which Woo and Sizzle deconstructs the male beauty ideal.

Eight contestants paraded their manliness through a night of on the ball off-kilter entertainment in a night that delivered us the big, bold, beary and bendy through three rounds of Evening Wear, Talent and Swimwear. Notable praise goes to: Lewis Burton for showcasing true artistic beauty through performance art; Matthew’s pert booty for making our eyes (and other areas) pop; Ray Noir for bringing real darkness to a hot summer’s day; and Max for showcasing how far one is willing to bend over backwards for true glory in his body contorting talent round.

Judges Jodie Harsh, Wayne ‘East Bloc’ Shires, DJ Jeffrey Hinton and Attitude Deputy Editor Cliff Joannou postulated over the finer details of which bloke broke the mould the best.

“Tonight was an unconventional dream come true,” declared Jodie Harsh. “Tonnes of bare flesh aside, I love The Glory, it’s so original. Everything Jonny Woo does is just fantastic.”

After the ensuing madness of the main show, the judges gathered backstage to thrash it out and eventually declare the winner to be queer clone Micka, who waltzed off with a monstrous £1,000 prize and all the envy of the ‘Faggerston’ massive.

Lads and gentlewomen… we have a new male beauty standard.

You can read more about Mr Glory competition and Jonny Woo’s attempts to challenges traditional conceptions of male beauty and masculinity in the Attitude HOT 100 issue, which is available to download to your mobile, iPad or tablet device NOW at pocketmags.com/attitude.

The new issue hits shops today (July 22), and you can also order a copy via ost at newsstand.co.uk/attitude.

The Glory is at 281 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AS. Visit the website at theglory.co or follow them on Twitter @TheGloryLondon

WORDS: CLIFF JOANNOU

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