Page 22 - Adelante Magazine June 2022

M
M
C COMMUNITY
O
U
T
Y
N
I
By: Al Ballesteros

TONY

ARDOLINO:

Mr. Gay World, USA

“If someone would have said to me when I
was a kid one day my parents would be in the
audience cheering me on in a gay pageant, I
would have said you were crazy” says Tony
Ardolino, an accomplished actor, director, and
producer who was recently crowned Mr. Gay
World USA representing the state of Maine.

The contest featured 35 contestants repre-
senting different US states and was held in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida at the end of 2021. As
Mr. Gay World USA, this new title will be
taking Tony across the country to promote
goodwill and the community values which the
title seeks to promote in the world. Tony will
also travel to South Africa to represent the
United States in the Mr. Gay World contest to
be held later this year.
Originally from New Jersey, Tony has lived in
New York, Los Angeles, Maine, and even
Singapore. Tony has a busy schedule which
includes work on numerous community
projects, his film career and also taking on the
duties associated with the Mr. Gay World,
USA crown holder. As part of various pride
celebrations to be held this month, he will be
making stops in several cities and states,
riding in parades, singing at a beach pride
event and even making a return to the high wanted to have fun, be myself, and hopefully
school he attended. make it to the top 12. Adelante: How did you find the other
contestants?
In the midst of all this newfound stardom, The first round in the competition was an Tony: Everyone was so excited to be there!
Tony is quick to talk about his community interview question where the contestants When we got to the final 12 you could tell the
work, his personal mission and values, the would be scored on their answers. Tony pressure was on and I remember hoping
community he loves and especially the youth waited all day until it was his turn to go into whoever wins, I just hope they are nice and
he hopes to have a positive impact on for the the interview. “I answered the questions kind. I knew the person would be touring the
better. honestly and from my answers, I saw the country and I thought that was important to
judges getting emotional and I thought, I could represent our community, a nice person.
Adelante: Tell us about the Mr. Gay World win this this contest as long as I stay true to
USA experience? myself.” Adelante: What was your experience like
Tony: I’m kind of a country boy and I found growing up a gay kid in New Jersey?
myself among this group of gorgeous gay Adelante: How did you get recruited to the Tony: I knew I was gay when I was in the third
men from around the country. I thought that contest? grade but I hid it. I was a happy kid and very
was the coolest thing in the world. And my Tony: I was dating a guy at the time that was creative and artistic. But as much as I wanted
two parents sitting in the audience was into pageants. I thought how cool it would be to shine, people in my town tried to dim me.
amazing. I felt like a kid at Disneyland. The to participate in one. It seemed like So I got bullied a lot as a young kid. At a
contestants were very diverse, of different something so different, like the gay Hunger young age, I was called a sissy and every
ages, body types, cultures and ethnicities. I Games. So when the opportunity came I took name in the book and that was hard. But from
was more excited than nervous and I just it. that it gave me a push to be the best that I can

2
2 22 W WWW.ADELANTEMAGAZINE.COM \ TO ADVERTISE IN ADELANTE MAGAZINE CALL (323) 256-6639
L
A
Z
I

C
E
N
A
E
L
T
N
A
A
G
M
E

L
9

3
6
6

-
2
3
3

(
5
6
2
)

A
Z
G
M
A
.
C
E
I
N
E
A
D
.
W
W
N
T
A
E
L
O
E

S
T
I
A
D

I
N
R
T
O

M
\
V
E
D

A