Stuart Hatton (born Stuart Alexander McNichol 17 June 1985) is an English pageant winner, model, and dancer. He was a former Mr. Gay World and for two consecutive years and Mr. Gay UK in 2013 and 2014. He was the first North East man to win the title of Mr. Gay UK.[3]

Stuart Hatton
Stuart Hatton Jr. moments after winning Mr. Gay World 2014
Born
Stuart Alexander McNichol

(1985-06-17) 17 June 1985 (age 38)
NationalityEnglish
Alma materSt Wilfrid's RC College
South Tyneside College
Newcastle University
TitleMr Gay UK 2013[1]
Mr Gay UK 2014
Mr. Gay World 2014[2]
Parent(s)Peter McNichol
Wendy Hatton

Early life edit

Stuart Alexander McNichol was born to Peter McNicol and Wendy Hatton on June 17, 1985, in South Shields, United Kingdom. His mother has a fraternal twin named Stuart Hatton, so when he started using the last name Hatton, he was referred to as Stuart Hatton Jr. Hatton started dancing at 13 months and attended St Wilfrid's RC College for high school, graduating in 2001, followed by South Tyneside College and Newcastle University. Hatton studied Language and Linguistics, originally planning on becoming a speech therapist.[4]

Career edit

Hatton worked as an underwear model and dance teacher before entering the pageant and modelling world. Hatton teaches at the Hatton Academy of Dance owned by his mother, where he is also co-principal.[5] He specialises in classical, ballroom, and Latin American dance.[6]

Pageantry edit

In 2013, he entered and won the Mr. Gay UK contest.[7]

In 2013, Stuart was honored as the first Mr Don’t H8 UK representative for the USA National System Don’t H8. The organization stands for anti-bullying across all spectrums and ran by Chip Matthews (Ronnie Paulley) the CEO/President. Stuart was also inducted into the class of 2015 Don’t H8 Hall of Fame.

In 2014, Hatton was crowned Mr. Gay UK once again, and he went on to win the Mr Gay World 2014 competition.[8] On winning the crown, Hatton stated, "I am now able to use my voice to help those in countries around the world who have no voice or equality rights, such as people in Malaysia and Iran. We are all human, and all gay people around the world deserve the same human rights. This is just the beginning."[9][10][11]

Modelling edit

Hatton was picked for a contract with Ubisoft, appearing in their Just Dance 4 game for Xbox commercial.[12][13]

In 2015, he joined with Strictly Come Dancing's Callum MacDonald "for a special same-sex advertising campaign for Freed of London." The two were criticised by Strictly's James Jordan who stated, "If there is a same sex couple dancing… it would be a joke. People wouldn't take it seriously. It would have to be a comedy value." Hatton accused the latter of homophobia and stated he would no longer support Jordan, his shows, or his tours "ever again."[14][15]

As an underwear model, Hatton has modelled for Bruno Banani,[16] DeadGoodUndies,[17] Mundo Unico,[18] and others.

So what? edit

Hatton launched his "So what?" campaign in January 2015. The campaign has an anti-bullying and homophobia awareness platform with people writing "So what?" on their hands and posting their photos to social media. The official slogan of the campaign is: "Some of us have blue eyes, some of us have green eyes. Some of us are straight. Some of us are gay... So what?" The campaign was supported by The Shields Gazette, Alfie Joey, Lorraine Kelly, the cast of Coronation Street, and international Twitter users who used the hashtag #SoWhat.[19][20][21]

Awards edit

Year Award Result
2013 Mr. Gay UK Won
2013 Mr. Don’t H8 UK Won
2014 Mr. Gay UK Won
2014 Mr. Gay Europe First runner up[22] after Austria was disqualified
2014 Mr. Gay World Won
2015 Don’t H8 Hall of Fame Won
Un­known Carl Alan Award Nominated

Personal life edit

Hatton previously dated actor Daniel Brocklebank. The two separated after two years in January 2019.[23]

References edit

  1. ^ Avery, Dan (4 December 2013). "Stuart Hatton, 28, Crowned Mr. Gay UK 2013: PHOTOS". New Now Next. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. ^ McCormick, Joseph Patrick (2 September 2014). "Mr Gay UK returns home after being crowned Mr Gay World". Pink News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. ^ "VIDEO: 'I'm proud to represent South Shields gay community'". The Shields Gazette. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  4. ^ "From DNA Magazine - Meet This Year's Mr Gay World". DNA Magazine. 25 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Mr. Gay UK Stuart Hatton Wins Mr. Gay World 2014". New Now Next. 1 September 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  6. ^ "STUART HATTON JR: MORE THAN MR GAY UK". Beautiful Magazine. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  7. ^ Nichols, James Michael (4 December 2013). "Stuart Hatton Crowned Mr. Gay UK 2013". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  8. ^ Towner, Myriah (29 November 2014). "South Shields dance teacher Stuart Hatton crowned Mr Gay World". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  9. ^ "INTERVIEW: Meet Mr Gay World 2014, Stuart Hatton". The Gay UK. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  10. ^ Nichols, James Michael (2 September 2014). "Stuart Hatton, Mr. Gay U.K. 2014, Crowned Mr. Gay World 2014". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  11. ^ Higbee, Johnathan (2 September 2014). "Mr. Gay World 2014 Is Crowned!". Instinct Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Just Dance 4 Kinect Features Trailer". Ubisoft. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Stuart Hatton Interview". Men's Underwear Reporter. 3 November 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  14. ^ Richens, Tony (1 June 2015). "Same-sex Ballroom Dancing Coming to a Screen Near You". eikonline. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Strictly star says same-sex dancing couples "a joke"". Mamba Online. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Underwear photoshoot in live broadcast by DeadGoodUndies". Dead Good Undies. 5 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  17. ^ "DGU model in global talent contest". Men & Underwear. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Mr Gay UK Stuart Hatton returns to Deadgoodundies.com to model the latest men's underwear fashions for spring". PR Web. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  19. ^ Newman, Vicki (8 January 2015). "IN PICTURES: Mr Gay World's 'So What?' anti-homophobia campaign goes global". The Shields Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  20. ^ "We Say So What!". Parenting With Pride. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Stuart Hatton Mr Gay World tells us about his So What campaign". G Wedding Directory. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Deadgoodundies model Stuart Hatton Jr wins third place in Mr Gay Europe competition". Men & Underwear. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  23. ^ Chase, Stephanie (25 January 2019). "Coronation Street's Daniel Brocklebank splits from boyfriend Stuart Hatton". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.