Armando Santos: "I feel good everywhere!"

June 25 2013

by misterb&b

Maybe you don't know him yet, but he is a candidate for the Mister Gay World election and represents France in this contest. A former soccer player, Armando is also a young man committed to the LGBT cause, and is participating in the new AIDES prevention campaign. He tells us about his background, his ambitions and his travels.

misterb&b : For those who don't know you, can you introduce yourself ?
Armando Santos : A healthy mind in a healthy body. I am happy to transmit and spread my love for life. I am 26 years old and I have a great future ahead of me!

Tell us about your background ...
I was born in Belgium, of Lebanese-Portuguese parents and living in France. So I feel good everywhere! I was lucky to have parents who always supported me, from the age of 5, my father (himself an amateur goalkeeper) gave me the desire to become a professional footballer.my father (an amateur goalkeeper himself) gave me the desire to become a top level footballer, which allowed me to develop my body in a harmonious and natural way.

Is being gay and a footballer not too difficult?
I felt a certain reticence linked to my homosexuality. Unfortunately, it is still taboo in the sports world... probably the fear of "what will people say? ". In France, fortunately, mentalities are changing, even if we must remain vigilant.

How did you become the French representative of Mister Gay Europe and World?
Through my visibility on the web via the Têtu website and my Facebook page. I was noticed by Benjamin, a young blogger of a European gay blog who supported my candidacy with the committee LGBT Europe and LGBT World committee so that I could become the standard bearer of the European LGBT community and be a role model for the young and not so young, to reassure them and show them that it is possible to be gay, to be balanced and to get by.

What does this mean to you? What message would you like to pass on?
I am proud and happy to be gay in France, a country that has just adopted marriage for all and it is with dignity, honor and pride that I will be the flag bearer for a Europe and a world of social progress, freedom, equality and fraternity for all! One can be well in one's head, in one's body and in one's personality, while being homosexual.

Do you want to do modeling afterwards?
I am not tall enough to join a traditional modeling agency. However, I have always worked as a model for different photographers where I had the chance to join "rentablake" a virtual agency i was lucky enough to join "rentablake" a virtual agency from the digital magazine "The Blake mag" which recently allowed me to be a host for the launch of the new fragrance "Fuel for Life Spirit" by Diesel. You will also be able to see me walk the runway on June 29, 2013, at the Palais de la Bourse, with the Spring-Summer 2014 men's collections of the most Parisian of Brazilian designers, Gustavo Lins.

AIDES campaign

What are your projects?
I took part in the shooting of " Ma quête, mon héros ", a romantic film by François Duarté, with the actor David Decarme, which should be released this summer.i will also be in the video clip of David Stephan feat Indra planned for the fall and whose benefits will go to thethe benefits will go to the association "La Breizh de l'Espoir, brûlons la Muco" which aims to fight against cystic fibrosis. And also, I walk alongside Aides to defend and represent the rights of the LGBT community, to carry and convey the image of a proud and free community. You can vote for my photo http://www.guyspy.com/peoples-choice/ knowing that I have chosen, as an ambassador of AIDES, to donate the profits from the votes to the association.
I will also be part of the AIDES summer prevention campaign that will start from June 26 to 28, 2013, and then from July 3 to 6, 2013. Finally, I support the "Gay Games 2018" in Paris, candidate city to host the largest hetero-friendly sports and cultural event of which Pierre Bergé has accepted to become the honorary president

And above all we must not forget Mr Gay Europe from July 26 to 31, 2013 in Prague, then Mr Gay World, from August¹ to 5, 2013 in Antwerp. The latter will take place at the same time as the "World Outgames ".

A few questions about travel:

Have you always lived in Paris?
After traveling the world, my parents settled in Paris when I was very young.

Of all your travels, what are your favorite cities?
In Europe, my good memories are: Prague, Antwerp and Amsterdam. In the USA: New York. And especially Brazil, Thailand and London.

Your favorite places in the world?
The choice is difficult, the "gay friendly" is becoming global.

A city to party in?
Paris

The city where you find the most beautiful boys?
In Israel. Eliad Cohen seems to me a very good example.

A city to fall in love?
According to Woody Allen it would probably be Paris

A city to get married?
In France... Montpellier was the first

The most gay-friendly city?
Amsterdamin the Netherlands and Strasbourg in France

What item do you always take with you on your trip?
Condoms, get out "covered". Spread the word!

Your advice for a good trip?
Don't prepare your trip at the last minute. Whatever the situation, stay cool and smile. And don't forget that you are an ambassador for your country abroad.

Corridor or porthole?
Corridor without hesitation. I need to move too much.

Your next trip?
Mykonos this summer

Your dream trip?
Australia

Finally, could you share with our users a picture taken during one of your recent trips?

Photo taken in Thailand