When even a men’s style magazine suddenly awards more women than men in its “Men of the Year” awards, then something really seems to be moving in society. That’s what happened last night at the German “GQ Men of the Year” awards, where three women and two men were honored in Berlin.
The winners were film actress Diane Kruger, human rights activist Düzen Tekkal and designer Martine Rose. Previously known winners were film star Eddie Redmayne and Real Madrid footballer David Alaba.
Tekkal “an exceptional phenomenon in the political landscape”
The gala took place in a former multi-storey car park in Charlottenburger Kantstraße, the Kant-Garagen. Moderator Hadnet Tesfai moderated the evening. The rapper Ufo361 performed as the music act.
Tekkal, who was honored as “Human Rights Activist of the Year”, is “an exceptional phenomenon in the political landscape,” explained “GQ”. “War reporter, filmmaker, journalist and above all human rights activist”. Above all, they want to recognize “her commitment to the protesting women and men in Iran”.
Kruger, on the other hand, is “well on the way to becoming a German Hollywood legend – and she will soon be playing the greatest herself: with Fatih Akin she is working on a five-part series about the life of Marlene Dietrich.” There could hardly be a more suitable cast for the Ufa production: “An icon plays an icon”.
As the daughter of a Jamaican father and a British mother, fashion designer Martine Rose shows “that thinking differently can be a strength”. “She finds inspiration in today’s subcultures, never losing sight of reality and sets trends that go from niche to mainstream.”
Critical handling of gender stereotypes
Speaking of fashion, Eddie Redmayne didn’t arrive in a tuxedo, but in a see-through turtleneck top with red floral detailing. He sees gender clichés critically, said the Oscar winner (“The Discovery of Infinity”, “The Danish Girl”). Everyone has male and female sides and he thinks it’s nice that you can show both today. “There’s a lot more freedom today to explore gender boundaries, and I find that exciting.”
Despite all the fashion message, the Briton Redmayne was not lacking in self-mockery. He already knows he looks like Christmas decorations, said the 40-year-old – “dressed as a Christmas decoration”.
The new “GQ” editor-in-chief Tobias Frericks said at the beginning of the gala that his magazine wanted to help redefine masculinity. One no longer wants to be an adviser “who recommends a right-handed Martini for a left-handed cigar”. Instead: “a platform for relevant zeitgeist topics, art and culture”. The German edition of “GQ”, which appears in many countries, has been around for 25 years.
Among the gala and party guests on Friday night were actors such as Dimitrij Schaad, Trystan Pütter, Clemens Schick and Maximilian Mundt, as well as comedienne Enissa Amani, designer Michael Michalsky, actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer, presenter Rabea Schif, rapper Luciano and various others tiktoker.
Appropriately for the event, which turned on deadlocked images of masculinity, it was probably also the fact that the vodka brand had a large stand at the after-show party, in whose commercial currently the former James Bond actor Daniel Craig, the epitome of macho masculinity, with undershirt and necklace, dancing around with swinging hips. “Daniel Craig is “James Blau”” recently commented on “Bild”.
