Finalist | Iconic Influencer Awards
Ben Lloyd
Commercial Manager at OUT North East
1 to 5 years experience Stanley Events Services Team of 2-10
Turning personal battles into purpose, and using my voice to make sure others feel seen, heard and never alone.
- Radio Station of the Year
About Ben
Ben's video
A video from Ben is coming soon.
Proudest achievements
- Winning Mr Gay Great Britain 2025, giving me a national platform to champion LGBTQ+ equality, visibility and mental health awareness.
- Personally raising £3,556.24 for charity, contributing to a combined £36,554.48 raised by the Mr Gay Great Britain finalists.
- Using my personal experiences with mental health and sobriety to break down stigma, inspire others and encourage open conversations.
- Becoming Commercial Manager at OUT North East and Pride Radio, building partnerships that generate vital funding for LGBTQ+ services.
- Being part of OUT North East’s success in winning Small Charity of the Year at the North East Charity Awards 2026.
- Representing the LGBTQ+ community at Manchester Pride alongside Fighting With Pride and raising awareness through BBC Radio Manchester.
- Creating my podcast, Don’t Let It Go to Your Head, to encourage honest conversations about mental health, sobriety and personal challenges.
- Building an international performing career, including Disney, theatre and cruise ships, before becoming Head of Musical Theatre and inspiring the next generation of performers.
- Supporting LGBTQ+ young people to build confidence, embrace their identities and feel accepted.
- Turning personal challenges into purpose, using my platform to show others that setbacks don’t define you and that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued and celebrated.
About OUT North East
About Ben's team
The journey
Why your vote matters
Behind every nomination is a journey that people don’t always see. The challenges, the setbacks, the determination to keep showing up and the passion to make a difference.
Being nominated for an Iconic Influencer Award means so much to me, not just because of what I’ve achieved, but because of everything it’s taken to get here.
From sharing my own mental health journey to championing LGBTQ+ visibility and supporting our community through OUT North East and Pride Radio, I’ve always hoped to use my platform for something bigger than myself.
If I’ve ever inspired you, made you smile, helped you feel less alone or simply encouraged you to be yourself, I’d be incredibly grateful for your vote.
A few seconds of your time would mean the world to me.
Thank you for being part of my journey. We’re only just getting started! ✨
VOTE FOR BEN LLOYD 🏆
People's Choice
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Ben's road to the ceremony
Nominated
Nominated on 24 October 2026
People's Choice vote
Voting opens soon
Finalists announced
Ben is a finalist
The awards ceremony
Thursday, 26 November 2026 at National Conference Centre, Birmingham B92 0EJ
The people behind Ben
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