Ozak (26 th) "besar ,pintar,ganteng dan berotot" 

Hi Ozak, IÂ’m sure not many people know you at this stage. Can you introduce yourself to the world?
Okay, in a short way, IÂ’m a half hippy and half corporate.

What do you mean?
Yeah, I am a free spirit. IÂ’m not my hair. IÂ’m not my skin. I am a soul that lives within. I like to sing and dance especially in the rain. On the other hand, I am a subsea engineer. I like to get lost infront of computer analysing wave fatigue analysis on the drilling riser. I occasionally like wearing a suit. So, I see myself as a half hippy and half corporate.

Good to know. LetÂ’s talk more about your participation in Mr.Gay World 2014. How did you hear about this event?
I think I knew it before from the news. When I mentioned to my housemate that I wanted to join, his response was like “Is that for gay people?” and I just nodded. Apparently my straight friend willing to take partÂ*the competition as well.

Hahahaha, he needs to confirm to the committee first for the eligibility. What made you decide to join then?
I have personal reason which I cannot tell you in this interview because I want to address this matter direcly in the competition later. But I can give you other reason which is “visibility”. In my home country, the majority of LGBT people still live under the radar. We do exist, but we are still considered as a joke sometimes. We are there among the society, but there is still a huge barrier to assimilate with them. It’s difficult to apprehend the good side of us when the stigma still dominate our portrait. The combination of social norm and religious perception towards LGBT people is still the biggest burden for us to make peace within ourselves.

After the visibility comes “tolerance”. I am grateful enough to be able to live overseas and do bit of travelling. While many asian LGBT still struggle with their identity to fit in to the society in home country, I find other challenges within LGBT community itself that sometimes the gay scene can be more cruel than you can ever imagined. No black, no asian, no white, no feminine, no over 30. Hung only. Hairy only, Manly only, Top only.

Well you know what, I am going to step up on the world stage for you all to see me whatever I am. I am all the rejection that you can address. I am all the unticked criterias that you required. At the same time, I am the reality. This shape, face, race, voice are there on the stage for you to see me. You donÂ’t have to love me, you donÂ’t have to accept me. Only this time, I ask you to see me. If thousands of me appear and you become familiar with it, I hope your tolerance level might improve slightly better.

Ok, itÂ’s getting too serious here and IÂ’m not sure if I can digest all your information. Anyway, how is the preparation so far?
So far so good. A good friend of mine helping me with the national costume. My friends keep sending the support through private message and online voting. The rest itÂ’s just managing the expectation, really. Luckily I got upcoming holiday so I can indulging myself to refresh my mind. Hopefully I donÂ’t go too crazy.

Just random question, are you top or bottom?
What kind of question is this? I will answer that on grindr if you insist.

Just random question again, do you think size matter?
IÂ’m glad you ask. Ehmm, but why is it important for you to know? (awkward silent for a while).

Well, itÂ’s been a pleasure to have a chat with you then. Goodluck for the competition ahead.
What? ThatÂ’s it? No more question? Ask me more!!!