We Meet the New Mr. Reykjavík Bear 2025, Johann.

26th September 2025 Richard Jones

The bear community is often celebrated as a place of acceptance and belonging for bigger, hairier queer men, but for Jóhann Örn B. Benediktsson, it represents much more than just a social group, it’s a chosen family and a platform for change. From a chubby bear farm boy in the north of Iceland to the current Mr. Reykjavik Bear, Jóhann’s journey has been one of finding confidence and validation. Now, he’s using his title not just to represent the Icelandic bear scene, but to become an outspoken advocate for body positivity, mental health, and, most significantly, trans solidarity across Europe. In this exclusive interview, Jóhann discusses his unexpected entry into the competition, his work as an educator and consultant, and his commitment to showing the magic the queer community can do when it comes together. I had a chance to chat with Jóhann and learn more about his journey to his new title.

Richard Jones: Can you tell us a bit about your background? Including name, where you are from and current city of residency?

Jóhann Örn B. Benediktsson: My name is Jóhann and I’m a 33-year-old chubby bear farm boy from the north of Iceland, more specifically Miðfjörður, but now I live in downtown Reykjavík with my fiancé, Magnús. I work as director of finance and operations at Mímir Símenntun, which is the biggest continued education school for adults in Iceland. It specializes in teaching immigrants and refugees Icelandic and helping them to adjust to life in Iceland. I also have my own company in consulting, where I am doing financial analytics and corporate consulting for Icelandic businesses.

Photo taken with other reigning sash holders from Europe. In order from the left: Per Helge, Mr. Fetish Europe 2024, Christian, reigning Mr. Bear Gran Canaria 2025, Iain, reigning Mr. Lisbon bear 2025, Alex, reigning Mr. Bear Europe 2025, and Kevin, reigning Mr. Bear Belgium 2025.

RJ: What drew you to the bear community?

JB: Having been a bigger guy my entire life, I never felt like I fit in or was fully accepted until I found the bear community. It’s a community of acceptance, respect and happiness. When I started to go to bear events, I immediately fell in love with the society and the people in it. The amount of smiles, laughs, hugs and support was contagious. There I found a chosen family that made me feel that I was amazing just the way I am. I felt the validation and warmth that I had been looking for, for a long time.

RJ: Tell us about your local/countries bear scene and some of your favorite places or organizations whose events you enjoy.

JB: Bangsafélagið (The bear society of Iceland) is the only organization that is specially surrounding bears. It started with a bear festival called “Bears on ice” that started in 2005. From 2020 it continued on as the event “Reykjavík Bear” and has become one of the biggest queer festivals held in Iceland. Bangsafélagið, the organization that holds the event is a non profit organization that donates all of its proceeds to queer charities in Iceland. I have been volunteering at Reykjavík Bear for four years, since I entered the bear scene, and it is my favourite time of the year. The next Reykjavík Bear festival will be held from the 3rd to the 6th of September 2026.

My partner and I, on the truck of Rvk Bear in the 2024 pride parade.

RJ: How was your experience competing? What was the process like? What was your favorite part?

JB: It was really scary, but so much fun. I had no intention to apply to enter the competition. It was in the back of my mind that I would love to, but my lack of confidence held me back. However, my partner and my friends were constantly helping me and encouraging me to push my limits and go out of my comfort zone. I sat down, did some planning, put every outfit and act into an Excel spreadsheet, and finished my application for the contest around 7 minutes before the deadline. My favourite part was showing off my “Best of bear” outfit, where I had the bear flag sewn into a vest, my partner made me a bear pride coloured bow tie, and I walked on stage with a massive cape.

RJ: Tell us about your platform. What was the issue you campaigned on or addressed during the competition?

JB: My main focus was on acceptance, being an advocate for body positivity and wanting to show clear support to my trans siblings. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I feel like it’s not only a want, but a duty for me as a privileged, white, cis, gay man from a liberal country, to stand up for my LGBTQ+ siblings. For the last couple of years I’ve tried my best to help raise awareness and support for the queer community. The highlight of this year, other than winning Mr. Reykjavík bear, of course, was going to Budapest for their pride parade. As many of us know our queer siblings in Hungary have been having a hard time, and the Hungarian parliament banned all assembly that “promoted” queerness and the LGBT+ society. They threatened fines and prosecution for attending, but the queer society of Hungary held their own and made the march happen. I, along with five others from Samtökin 78 (National Queer Association of Iceland), flew to Hungary to support their cause. It was the most amazing, and scary, day I have ever experienced. There, the whole world saw what magical things the queer community can do, if we come together in solidarity. Around 200.000 people showed up in support and it was just magical.

Just after the win when my partner ran on stage to kiss me.

RJ: What are the responsibilities associated with your title?

JB: As Mr. Reykjavík bear, it’s my duty to represent the Icelandic bear community, both at home and abroad. There are not many requirements made by the Icelandic bear society, but I need to attend at least one bear event abroad, the Icelandic pride parade in August, and then of course to crown the new Mr. Reykjavík bear 2026. However, I have decided to make this year a little more extravagant.

RJ: What are your goals for your title year? Where will you be appearing?

JB: My goal for this year is to travel and be a good advocate for the bear society here in Iceland. I’ve already planned four events until the end of this year; Belgium Bear Pride, Bear Pride Poland, Bear Pride Cologne and Frosty bears in Vienna. I am still planning next year to go to Toulouse, where I went to University, Czechia, Dublin, Amsterdam and Lisbon for Mr. Bear Europe. Alex, the current Mr. Bear Europe is a very good friend of mine, and I really want to see him hand over his sash and finish his reign.

RJ: What are some important issues you feel that need to be addressed in the bear community?

JB: Be kind, be respectful and show empathy. What makes the world a beautiful place is that we are all different, with different expectations, aspirations and experiences. Mental health is also a very big thing for me. I think men, and especially queer men, have a hard time facing their emotions and talking about their feelings. Hardship doesn’t vanish by ignoring it, it needs to be faced and conquered.

RJ: Where can we find you?