The Top 15 Favorite Gay Reality Stars

#10 Daniel Vosovic
Appeared on: Project Runway (2006)

While the biggest personality from the second season of Bravo’s smash design competition Project Runway was Santino Rice, it was second place finisher Vosovic whom AfterElton.com readers remember most fondly. And why not? It was Daniel who racked up five challenge wins before losing (unfairly, thought many) to Chloe Dao in the season finale. And it was Daniel who endeared himself to viewers with his sweet nature and gentle personality, which contrasted sharply with Santino.

What was the best part of your experience? Being able to do what I love to do in such a condensed, concentrated environment, but to do it on camera for millions to witness brought the stakes to a whole new level. I don't know if it’s because I'm an Aries or what, but I thrive on competition and really did love everything about the entire experience . . . even the 10 lbs I lost due to sleep deprivation and exhaustion!

How did it change you? I don't feel that it really changed me per se. I feel that it just helped to solidify what I already was internally feeling. To receive immediate feedback on my work from industry professionals I've looked up to for years was an amazing opportunity, and to feel that I was doing a somewhat good job really helped to boost my confidence at the beginning stages of my career.

What are you doing now? After assisting for a few years, and working on other projects like my new book, I'm excited to tell you that I finally have a launch date for my own label! Currently, my daily life consists of, what I'm calling, my "hunting/gathering phase", which includes all of the really boring stuff that sucks to talk about in interviews: costing production and sampling, meeting with mills and PR agencies, looking at larger studio spaces here in NYC, beginning to interview for my new team, and much more. We're aiming to launch February 2010 with something fabulous for you all to enjoy and ogle!

Your reaction to making the list? Is there a plaque or trophy involved?

#11 Clay Aiken
Appeared on: American Idol (Season 2)

Clay Aiken wouldn’t even have been eligible for this list six months ago as it was September of last year that the pop singer finally came out as a gay man. Speculation about his sexuality ran rampant almost from the moment he made it to the final twelve of the second season of American Idol where he quickly became a fan favorite. But Aiken consistently denied he was gay until he finally appeared on the cover of People Magazine in 2008. Despite topping the results of fan voting for most of the show, Aiken lost the American Idol crown to Ruben Studdard in a very tight competition.

But that second place finish didn’t slow Aiken down at all. He has gone on to sell millions of records, authored a book that made The New York Times Bestseller List, and starred in Spamalot on Broadway. And this is far from Aiken’s first appearance on a list of favorite reality stars. TV Guide readers named him “Favorite Reality Star of 2003” and a 2006 People poll named him “Favorite American Idol” star.

AfterElton: We recently did a poll of favorite gay reality stars...
Clay Aiken: And I came in what?

AE: You ranked very high.
CA: What's that mean, 15? 17 out of 400?

AE: Higher than that.
CA: Well that's good!

AE: Do you have any words for your fans who voted for you?
CA: Well, thank you for spamming the website, those of you who voted!