'Performative Male' contest sees tote bags, matcha -- and a police visit
Ivan Lim
TNP
August 27, 2025
Performative male: a derisory term for a man who creates a gender identity - typically a feminist or sensitive one - with the aim of gaining the attention and validation of women.
And the inaugural Singapore Performative Male Contest on Aug 24 drew a crowd of about 50, with around half of them actually competing.
Up for grabs: $100, a tooth gem set worth $349 and a sash not unlike those in beauty pageants emblazoned with the title Best Performative Male.
Organised by tooth gem artist Tati, who goes by the handle toothy.frutti on both TikTok and Instagram, the contest was touted as "an unserious event" with the aim of getting people together, as well as to create awareness for Tati's brand.
A similar event was recently held in San Francisco, drawing hundreds of contestants.
'We must stop period cramps!'
Singapore's competition was held at BMF Tattoo Studio at King George's Avenue.
Participants were urged to have fun, and the contest poster had all the elements associated with the archetypal performative male - matcha tea, tote bag, a fashionable item such as a Labubu keychain, wired earphones, feminist literature, and a cutout of the album image of indie female artiste Clairo.
All present seemed to have read the memo, and dressed accordingly. The event got so rowdy that there was even a noise complaint, resulting in a visit from the police.
In the end, top prize went to a man named Marvin.
Adorned in a loose fitting knit-vest over a collared shirt and with a newsboy cap, he hammed it up in his speech.
"We must stop period cramps," he declared as he berated the patriarchy, his messenger tote slipping dramatically over his Mofusand as he gesticulated, while the matcha swirled dangerously in his other hand.
But it was a guy with a dog in a handbag (haidilaohotmom on Instagram) who seemed to have won the hearts of many.
"Dude with the dog is No 1 in our hearts," said one.
Dog-man-star's response: "I have a GF, guys."
