Meet Ignácius Dvorský, the new Mr. Vice Bear Czechia 2023

30th June 2023 John Hernandez

Our friends over at the Prague Bears recently filled us in on the Mr. Bear Czechia contest and Pride event they held back in May. Gorgeous men descended on the Czech Republic to celebrate their comradery as bears and to elect a new Mr. Bear and Vice Mr. Bear Czechia for 2023.

We are pleased to have sat down with Ignácius Dvorský, the new Mr. Vice Bear Czechia, to find out a little bit about him and his experience in the competition. We present out conversation with him below.

BWM: Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Ignácius Dvorský (ID): I am a 20-year-old bear, with a very complex history at such a young age.

Even though my dad is Czech, and my mom is half Czech and half Bulgarian, and my first language is Czech, I was born in the Netherlands, and I lived in five different countries in Europe during my childhood alone. This year it will be 10 years since I have been back in the Czech Republic. I don’t know if it’s permanent.

I am the seventh of eight children, and my siblings are really my best friends. My hobbies include mainly music and gastronomy. And even though I have worked mainly in gastronomy for most of my life, I currently work as a service technician in a phone repair shop.

I play 7 musical instruments, and I like to discover new ones. From September I will study accordion at the Pilsen Conservatory. I have a band with my siblings called Re.Generace and you can also find us on social media. I am a rather quiet, introverted person, but in the right company open up.

BWM: What drew you to the bear community?

IG: It may sound strange, but somehow I’ve always felt that I belonged to this community for as long as I can remember; maybe even before I knew there was such a thing as a bear community.

I joined the Prague bear community only very recently, when I was invited by a friend of mine to a bear meeting event in Prague.

BWM: What made you want to compete for Mr. Bear Czechia?

IG: Well, at one of the first bear events I attended in Prague, I met the guys who organize the Mr Bear Czechia election. They talked about planning this event and I was immediately very interested. However, since I was new to the community, I was too insecure to apply right away.

At first I thought I would just come as a spectator, to see how it works, and maybe try it next year, or something. But, on the very last day it was even possible to file an application to compete, the same friend who brought me to the Prague Bears texted me to see if I wanted to try and apply. I was bored at work, so I said “Hell yeah” and filled out the form!

BWM: How was your experience competing? What was the best part?

IG: It was an incredible experience because the organization of the whole election was absolutely brilliant, and all my fellow candidates were wonderful company. I thought I would be very nervous, but the atmosphere was so great, that I was more exited, than nervous.

To be honest, the best part was probably the moment when all the performances were done, and only the votes were left to be counted. That was an incredibly powerful moment – when the stress falls off you, because it’s over, and you experience a sudden wave of joy that you actually did it, but at the same time, sadness that it’s the end… And then of course, the tension from the voting results.

BWM: What did you do for your performance?

IG: I played electric guitar and sang “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse.

BWM: What are your responsibilities as Vice Mr Bear Czechia?

IG: I certainly don’t have as many responsibilities as an the actual Mr Bear Czechia, but that doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously. Since I don’t have as many obligations, I try to focus on things and events where, Mr Bear can’t go because of his obligations.

I am in constant touch with Kuba, Mr Bear Czechia 2023, and we often discuss things together.

I try to represent as a Vice Mr Bear Czechia both in the Czech Republic and abroad, represent at events, perform, and support other bear groups and events, although sometimes it can be a bit difficult for me, because I’m new to this whole thing, and don’t know how to do a lot of things. But fortunately, I have amazing people around me that help me a lot.

BWM: Well I think you’re doing an amazing job so far. Thanks so much for talking with us Ignácius and enjoy your year as Vice Mr Bear Czechia!