Montreal’s “Queer of the Year” contestants, and their hilarious series host Mikala Bierma (lower right).
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to visit the always fabulous city of Montreal during their Fierté Montreal Pride weekend. While there, armed with a cameraman, I roamed all over the city shooting fun travel videos showcasing all of the great food, design and outdoorsy activities the amazing Quebecois city has to offer. You’ll see those videos soon…
But as I said, it was Pride Week too, and I also got to meet and hang with the six contestants who were vying to win the title of “Queer of the Year,” which is a fun and smart promotional event/contest that the savvy folks at Tourisme Montreal mount that’s sort of a reality competition series where fun and outspoken young gays battle for this sassy title.
The QOTY crew during their “sexy photo shoot” challenge.
Hopeful contestants send in videos of themselves, six finalists are chosen, and them Tourisme Montreal brings them to Montreal for a weeklong series of challenges, events, fun and promotions, the public votes and a winner is crowned. It’s a fun, viral campaign that shows of how gay-friendly and fabulous Montreal is, it showcase the coolness and cultural diversity what the city has to offer, and it gives fans and viewers a fun series to watch online.
You can get the full details on this year’s competition at QueerOfTheYearContest.com. Meet the contestants – Celio, Christine, Eric, Jason, Tim and Yenna - who hail from places like NYC, Virginia, Portugal and Saskatchewan – and watch all the fun clips of their weeklong experience. Plus, get into the contest’s amazing host, the funny-as-hell Mikala Bierma, who you may recognize from the “Disappointing Gay Best Friend” video series.
And then… Have a peek at our video below, also showcasing Pride, the contest and the crowning of the winner!
After that bit of speedy Pride/Queer of the Year video whiplash, start planning your own Montreal visit. It’s a fun, fabulous, richly entertaining, gorgeous city full of art, amazing food, sexy people and wild nights out.
Then go catch up on all the genius Queer of the Year videos and start planning your strategy to dominate the contest next year!
