Meet Mattia Cadeddu, Mr. Bear Sardinia Friendly 2024
One bear event that is continuing to gain popularity year over year is Sardinia Bear Weekend which is put on by the Urtzos. Having just taken place this July 25-28 we are joined by the newly appointed Mr. Bear Sardinia Friendly, Mattia Cadeddu, who fills us in on what went down, why Sardinia is a great place for bears to visit and what his plans are for his title year.
BWM: Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Mattia Cadeddu (MC): Hello to all the members of the Bear community! My name is Mattia Cadeddu, and I am 33 years old. I was born in Cagliari, the main city of Sardinia. I’m a software analyst, so I spend at least 8 hours a day in front of a computer. Outside of work hours and excluding sleep, I have several hobbies. I’ve been playing the piano since I was 15, spending time in private music schools and studying on my own. I enjoy going out and attending clubs, especially during events dedicated to our community. I love TV series, video games, and board games. After completing my bachelor degree, my partner Benedetto and I moved to the border between France and Switzerland because I won an 15-month scholarship as a Technical Student at CERN. After this wonderful experience, we felt that the mountains were not quite our habitat, so we moved again in Italy to Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna. It’s a beautiful town in the northern part of the state that allows us to balance fun and daily life.
BWM: What drew you to the bear community?
MC: Definitely the sense of acceptance within this community. I’ve always felt like an outsider when compared to the classic archetype, where you have to be super perfect, super muscular, super in everything. In the Bear community, I find the opportunity to be myself. Together with my partner Benedetto and my friend Stefano, we manage a fairly active community in the Italian Bear world called G.O.D.O. Italian Bears. We aim to create an environment where people can feel comfortable. Throughout the year, we organize various events where people can meet in person and enjoy some carefree moments together.
BWM: What made you want to compete for the title of Mr. Bear Sardinia Friendly?
MC: I decided to compete for the title because I wanted to have fun. That was the initial reason. Clearly, behind this simple motivation lies a desire to invest time in promoting the Bear community, and the title of Mr. Bear Sardinia Friendly certainly gives you that opportunity.
BWM: How was your experience competing? What was the process like? What was your favorite part?
MC: The entire Sardinia Bear Weekend was wonderful and full of activities that allowed me to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. From city tours, aperitifs, and days at the beach to nightclub parties and drag shows, there was no shortage of fun.
The competition was really fun and, above all, very balanced. It mainly consisted of two stages: the first stage involved an online vote on Telegram and Facebook, where people could vote for their favorite contestant. The rankings formed from these polls provided the opportunity to earn bonus points for the competition. In this stage, I placed third and earned 10 bonus points. During the main evening, we were judged by a panel of people who work in the bear and LGBTQI+ communities, including the outgoing Mr. Bear Sardinia.
To win the title, it was necessary to pass three challenges. The first challenge was to introduce yourself, sharing information to let the audience and judges get to know you. This challenge did not involve any eliminations. The second challenge was the talent portion. Each contestant had to perform something. Some sang, and others did a lipsync performance. My performance was playing a mashup of songs on my synthesizer. The songs I played included “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc., the Italian theme song from the first season of “Sailor Moon,” “Rosso” by Raffaella Carrà, and I concluded with the Tetris soundtrack. For this performance, I wore a harness that I modified myself, with colorful LED lights that synced to the music.
After this phase, two contestants were eliminated, leaving three of us for the final stage. This stage, which I found perhaps the most interesting, involved answering questions about issues within the bear community, such as the integration of people who don’t fit the classic 1980s bear stereotype.
At the end, a brief televote was opened on Telegram for the audience in the room to give extra points. After the third-place contestant was eliminated, my runner-up and I found ourselves on stage, standing to the left and right of Mr. Bear Sardinia 2023. To the sound of “We Are The Champions” by Queen, Andrea, the founder of Urtzos and host of the evening, proclaimed me Mr. Bear Sardinia 2024. It was very emotional and, honestly, anything but predictable.
BWM: Tell us about Sardinia. Why is it a good place for bears to visit? Are there bars and clubs for gay men and bears?
MC: Sardinia is the place where I was born, and like any true Sardinian, I always leave a piece of my heart there. Spending time on this island is a true boost for the mood. In the summer, it’s undoubtedly one of the top destinations for Italians and beyond, thanks to the beauty of its beaches and sea. Here, you can meet truly welcoming people, making it a pleasant place to spend a vacation. Honestly, there aren’t any places exclusively dedicated to the Bear community, but there are several gathering spots for the LGBTQI+ community. One of the most important is without a doubt Il Fico d’India, a lovely beach bar where dance parties, drag shows, book presentations, and more are organized. For years, it has also hosted the Mr. Bear Sardinia Friendly competition. During this week, you’ll notice a sizeable increase in the bear population in the city! So, I recommend everyone plan a nice trip for 2025.
BWM: What are the responsibilities associated with your title?
MC: The responsibilities tied to the title are varied. It’s certainly essential to promote a healthy Bear culture, focusing on the positive aspects of our world: inclusivity and body acceptance. In my opinion, the only way to promote these ideals is by talking to people and helping them understand that the Bear community is evolving, becoming more inclusive. Hair, beards, and chubbiness have always been part of the community and will continue to be, but we are not just that. We are people who want to live in harmony without creating unnecessary barriers based on appearance.
BWM: What are your goals for your title year? Will you be attending other bear events this year?
MC: My goals for this year are also varied: one of them is promoting the Bear community, helping people understand both the strengths and weaknesses of our community, showing how we can be beautiful and how we can improve. This can happen by talking to people and being active on social platforms. This year, I will definitely participate in several events dedicated to our community, especially within Italy, without ruling out the possibility of some events in Europe. Just a week after winning the title, I was invited as a judge at the first edition of Mr. Chirinbear, held on August 3rd, 2024, in Rimini at Chiringay on the eve of Rimini Summer Pride. It was a wonderful evening. On September 27th, 2024, I will be a guest at Feed the Bear at Cassero in Bologna. I invite you all to follow me online to see all the upcoming events I will officially attend and more.
BWM: What are some important issues you feel that need to be addressed in the bear community?
MC: As I mentioned before, the Bear community needs to evolve and uphold the ideals of inclusion. Being a bear doesn’t just mean being large, hairy, and chubby; it means being at peace with your body and personality. Everyone’s aesthetic preferences are, of course, subjective, but this should not be a reason to exclude people from a community they feel part of or would like to be part of.
BWM: Where can we find you? Websites? Social Media?
MC: My main social media is Instagram. You can find me with username @DrBear._ .
I invite you to also follow the page @g_o_d_o.italian.bears where we promote events throughout Italy.
Last but not least, you are all invited to attend the next Sardinia Bear Weekend, which will be held from July 24th to July 27th, 2025, in Cagliari. You can even compete for the title of Mr. Bear Sardinia Friendly 2025, as the title is open to contestants from any geographical location. And I will be the one crowning the winner, so you definitely can’t miss it. Check the IG profile @urtzos.
I’m very proud of you!