Mister Kansas proves true masculinity means speaking up for LGBTQ+ rights (and rocking a speedo)
We love Mister Kansas!
Mark
First he went viral for his thicc thighs and glorious glutes.
Then the gays discovered his allyship, and really went wild!
John Ahlstedt’s ride to viral fame began earlier this year, when he decided to enter the annual Mister USA competition in Las Vegas. When officials first reached out to Ahlstedt over Instagram, he thought it was a scam. A native Kansan and father of two, he’s not accustomed to the bright lights or a big stage.
But soon, he realized there was an opportunity awaiting him. Like tens of millions of Americans, Ahlstedt is horrified at the Tr*mp administration’s retrograde policies and brusque bigotry.
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Mister USA provided him with a platform to stand up for the marginalized.
A self-described “whimsical unicorn,” Ahlstedt was teased growing up for his flamboyant style. To fit in, he reverted to spewing the same homophobic barbs as his high school football teammates, and later blue-collar co-workers.
The Tr*mp admin’s attacks on LGBTQ+ people, and the trans community in particular, showed him how demeaning words can be turned into discriminatory policy.
When he announced his bid for Mister USA in April, he stood in front of a rainbow flag with the words “love is love” inscribed at the top.
“I had a thought,” he tells Queerty. ” If I’m a heterosexual male and I’m getting that much sh*t, and it’s making me that uncomfortable, what the F does everyone in the LGBTQ+ community feel like?”
Now with 400K followers on Instagram and TikTok, there’s little doubt where Ahlstedt stands. In his profile pics, he’s wearing a tank that says “ICE can gargle my balls.” (Don’t give the gays any ideas, John!)
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Mister Kansas’ unwavering support for LGBTQ+ people is even more enticing than his bulging pecs
Our timeline is definitely feeling blessed.
Mister Kansas
Though Mister USA wrapped in late August, a poster on X named “Hunky Hunt” posted a compilation of the swimsuit portion of the competition last weekend.
Among a sea of studs, Ahlstedt stood out. Mustached and speedo-clad, he was an instant gay attraction.
Mister USA 2026 Best in Swimwear 
pic.twitter.com/R3Gx2SnA41— Hunky Hunt (@hunkyhunt) September 11, 2026
Despite his Adonis-like build, Ahlstedt says he’s struggled with anxiety and body dysmorphia throughout his life. For him, donning a speedo for Mister USA wasn’t a vanity play.
It was a sign of self-confidence and strength.
“If I get out there and I’m in a speedo, and I’m literally putting myself on stage, I have a wife and kids who love me and support me,” he says. “That anchored me. It made me a lot more confident in myself.”
Zooming in, ogling onlookers also noticed that Ahlsted’s nails were painted a pretty shade of pink. Initially, he pinned his mani-pedi habit on his two young daughters. But now, he’s dropped all pretenses.
“I used my daughters as cover,” he says. “Now it’s because I like it.”
He says they really pop when he’s wearing a crop top or 3-inch in seams.
A true ally
On social media, Ahlstedt often posts videos affirming his support for LGBTQ+ people. “It’s f’n ridiculous,” he says in one of them. “I advocate for LGBTQ+ people and specifically trans people because of the sh*t show of an administration we have in this country.”
While Ahlstedt may have finished fifth in Mister USA, he’s a No. 1 ally. At a time when young men are being fed toxic content from the “manosphere,” Mister Kansas shows what true masculinity is all about.
If he changes the views of even one person, that’s a success.
“It has gotten people to say, ‘You know what? I see you, a straight man, doing this and living authentically, that’s giving me the courage to find new things as well,'” he says. “When I see stuff like that, it tells me to keep going.”
Now back in Kansas, Ahlstedt is determined to keep spreading his message of acceptance. “I feel extremely humbled by the amount of support I’ve gotten,” he says.
As for his newfound gay fans, he appreciates the love, though he has been a little confused about some of the DMs he’s received.
“Someone was like, “He’s a cheeseburger and fries away from being a box,” he adds. “I was like, ‘Wait… I like cheeseburgers!'”
And we like John! Here’s to Mister Kansas continuing to serve Grade A American beef, and standing up against hate.
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That rump is plump!
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