Generally, when someone hears about a beauty pageant, beautiful women with well-to-do attitudes are usually what springs into mind. Times have changed a LOT over the last handful of decades, though, and now men, too, can share a part in the fun of pageantry.
The Mister Global male beauty pageant, like many other pageants of its type, is organized not only to showcase the beauty and culture of each country represented, but also to help inspire the young men of each country to do good for the health of planet and people. The winner of the global pageant is expected to be a role model of such values to men all around the world, and his work begins the moment he takes the prize. The pageant itself, too, works to raise money for a charitable program, and this year the money raised benefitted an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.
This year’s winner is Jong Woo Kim of Korea, but trust us when we say he had some pretty close runner-ups. Each man was to dress in his national costume, representing the history and culture of his nation. While just about every model hit the nail on the head, we have to say that America might have misunderstood the rules just a bit.
1. United States of America
Apparently, Superman is the costume that best represents the history and culture of the nation. We know, we didn’t really know what to make of it either. Most of us are really all about Batman.
Gil Raupp was the model chosen to rep for Brazil. He is from the Rio Grande and brings all of the colors and garb that is so finely interwoven in his Brazilian heritage to the forefront. While Brazil took the title 2 years ago in 2017, it seems that this costume just didn’t do as much for the country this year.
Mister Chile wowed the audience with his shamanistic garb and solemn, yet spiritual expressions. One quick scroll through his
Facebook comments and there’s no doubt that his countrymen are proud.
Mister China kept things light in color but ornate in detail. His silk embroidered Hanfu boasts beautiful geometric patterns, but he’s caught a lot of attention for his lack of ironing skills.
This was Cuba’s first year competing in the international pageant and they didn’t disappoint. Mister Cuba brings the party with his festively patriotic outfit, designed after the country’s flag.
Mister Czech Republic brought all the Bohemian tradition into his outfit, including the lighthearted toss of his hat. Sewn from traditional materials of wool and silk, he looks like he walked right out of the pages of a history book.
Braulio Encarnación was chosen to rep his country, the Dominican Republic, and he did his ancestors proud. Ready for battle in the traditional clothing of a warrior, his costume is comprised of the furs, feathers, and bones you might expect to see donned by an ancient warrior from the culture. He presented so well that he took place for 4th runner up.
Adam Hussein took the role of Mister Egypt to heart with his ancient costume of a royal palace member. Girded with a beaded leather loincloth printed with hieroglyphs to match his ornate neckpiece similarly strung through with turquoise scarabs and lapis lazuli beads, he uses his beautiful crown boasting a large
Ankh to tie it all together.
While
Johnny Onedera didn’t don any Scotts while competing as Mister Guam, he did a fantastic job putting the beauty of the Marianas Kingfisher, a bird native to Guam and surrounding islands, on full display. Though they take liberties with his golden attire, the rest of the outfit is true to its flamboyant colors.
Tcholo Medastin as Mister Haiti struck us all with his simplistic Nubian inspired garb that somehow magnified the intensity of his gaze. As the
designers put it, the costume is:
“A tribute to the African roots of Haiti, a fantasy that pays tribute to the ancient African empire known as Nubia, a town of high artistic sensibility, wealth and culture.”
Keeping in line with what helped him take the win for the title as Mister Hong King 2019, Chace Cheng wore another brilliant dragon-themed ensemble to rep his country. It didn’t get him as far this time, but there’s no lack of people drooling over it.
Mister India displayed his culture’s softer side in his national garb with a beautifully embroidered silk turban with a floral print of roses. He pulls off the solemn and spiritual gaze of a guru, but it didn’t swing him enough votes to take the title for Mister Global.
Herman Yosef also went with a dragon-inspired outfit but in a much more ornate direction. Though the masterful costume didn’t earn him title this year, he did win Mister Global Indonesia in
April.
Kodai Hata presented as Mister Japan in a
Wafuku styled haori (jacket) and hakama (pleated trousers). He even boasted a traditional wagasa parasol for a pop of color.
Fun fact, the hakama were only worn by samurai and nobles during “feudal” times, and each of the 7 pleats in the trouser represents one of the virtues of the samurai.
Here we have the winner of the 2019 Mister Global pageant, Jong Woo Kim of South Korea. The 23-year-old model is also a
student of the police administration. He has a long road ahead of him filled with expectations from around the world, and we think he’s going to be fabulous!
Mister Laos donned the traditional warrior garb of
Lao Theung, with his brass and silver adornings on his sarong.
Mister Malaysia gave us a fearsome presentation modeled, we think, after the
Iban people concentrated in Sarawak. If that’s the case, this ancient tribe of people was known for their superior headhunting (and preserving) skills, which sure does make that tomahawk look a lot more intimidating.
Manuel Duarte brought Mexico’s roots back to life when he sported the costume of an ancient Mayan ruler. With the intense stamp of Mayan design and the unbelievably intricate headdress, we think it’s safe to say that he pulled it off pretty dam well, too.
Thiha Kyaw was announced Mister Global Myanmar 2019 and did his country proud in his costume as the Golden Garuda. Inspired by the
Garuda, a legendary bird-like creature upheld in and across many religions and ethnicities, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism. Essentially, the Garuda is the bird that carries the god Vishnu on his back in his travelings.
Aryan Sitaula as Mister Nepal kept things simple in the traditional Nepalese male outfit of a
Daura-Suruwal. The colors are in keeping with Nepal’s unique flag. The red represents their bravery and the color of the national flower, a rhododendron, while the blue represents peace, and the symbols now represent Hinduism and Buddhism, the two dominating religions of the country.
Mister Nigeria sported the accustomed fashion of the
Yoruba people, known for their brilliant use of color and for using fashion as a status symbol indicating wealth and class. The costume was made even more patriotic for its use of Nigeria’s flag colors.
North Cyprus chose to go with one of the oldest “costumes” of their time, the
Panna, which displays their infamous gold embroidery skills exquisitely. The cloth waist band actually served a meaning for the Cypriots. If it was black or dark, it represented older men, while young men wore wraps of bright colors. The different patterns and designs used in the waist wrap also indicated which part of the region you were from, as they varied based on locality.
Mister Panama caught everyone’s attention with his Carnival-inspired costume, but it was those perfectly exposed abs that are making everyone drool. While Rio de Janeiro holds the title for the world’s largest celebration of the holiday, Panama is right on its heels, hosting the second largest 4-day extravagant party, which takes place just before Ash Wednesday.
Mister Peru took us back to the ancient roots of his people, the Inca. According to various
origination mythologies, The Incans believed they were born of their sun-god, Inti, and sent down to earth through a cave in Paccari Tampu village and eventually settled in a valley near Cusco in 1200 A.D.
Mister Philippines presented himself as an ancient warrior as well. With a sleeve of traditional tribal tattoos and a mock sword overlaid in gold and adorned with precious stones, we’d say he pulled it off.
Michał Grudzień showed off his country’s accustomed folk-fashion for his costume. Just look at that smile! We would definitely dance with Mister Poland 2019!
Mister Portugal didn’t have to leap too far from his millennial fashion peers when he sported his folk costume. That hat makes him fit right in with all the hipsters these days.
Edgar Irizarry as Mister Puerto Rico went all out in his costume to pay his respects to his country’s ancestors. As he
told Business Insider, his get-up:
“paid tribute to the indigenous people of Puerto Rico; the taínos. The costume I wore was designed to resemble the Cacique Taíno,” which would be a cheiftain or local leader.
Marcus Max Karsten represented South Africa adorned with a huge, mesmerizingly ornamental chest-piece. As you can imagine, his fan-base has had a serious spike in number since modeling this outfit.
Mister Spain presented himself in the timeless ensemble of a matador. Unlike the other contestants, he didn’t go with brilliant and flamboyant colors or gaudy accessories. He just kept it dark and classy.
Mister Sri Lanka came to us in the form of Maduranga Dilshan this year, and he didn’t disappoint. His decoratively carved golden headpiece makes him look more like an ancient deity than a model.
Sebastian Jonsson is Mister Sweden, and he kept it sweet and simple, for sure. Dressed in the folk clothing that reminds us of a Ri-Cola commercial, the blue of his vest compliments those beautiful blue eyes perfectly.
Kenan Murseli is Mister Switzerland, and he took place as 3rd runner-up at the pageant this year. Dressed as a boxer in a silk robe flashing the Swiss flag symbol, this tough guy is sending a message, and we think it’s a bit different than Sweden’s.
Mister Taiwan came dressed as a traditional aboriginal warrior. His country’s colors are represented all throughout his headdress and front covering.
Jeerawat Vatchasakol represented as Mister Thailand dressed as an ancient Hindu deity. Quite possibly one of the most ornate and spiritual costumes in the pageant this year.
Mister Togo is Kwassy Adjamah. He came to the pageant wearing the traditional dress of a nobleman, with the golden crest of the African Lion, which represents the country’s highly-esteemed symbolism for independence. Being that it is scorching hot in the West African country, they keep their clothing light, flowing, and breathable.
Here we have our 1st runner up for the overall pageant, Houssem Saïdi as Mister Tunisia. His laid-back approach to his nation’s traditional wear and the perfect amount of chest exposure came pretty dam close to earning him the Mister Global title. He’s certainly gained a lot more fans since this photograph was published.
Mister Vietnam dressed in the traditional
áo dài at the pageant this year, celebrating his culture’s long-established love of this versatile garment. Composed of two main parts, the front flap and back flap, each of these “parts” have a total of 8 smaller parts that work to tie the whole outfit together. You can’t say Mister Vietnam didn’t put in any effort!
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That completes the list of sizzling hot contestants in the Mister Global Pageant of 2019. We congratulate Mister Korea on taking the win and all his runner-ups, and we look forward to seeing man-candy that the pageant hosts next year!
Generally, when someone hears about a beauty pageant, beautiful women with well-to-do attitudes are usually what springs into mind. Times have changed a LOT over the last handful of decades, though, and now men, too, can share a part in the fun of pageantry.
The Mister Global male beauty pageant, like many other pageants of its type, is organized not only to showcase the beauty and culture of each country represented, but also to help inspire the young men of each country to do good for the health of planet and people. The winner of the global pageant is expected to be a role model of such values to men all around the world, and his work begins the moment he takes the prize. The pageant itself, too, works to raise money for a charitable program, and this year the money raised benefitted an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.
This year’s winner is Jong Woo Kim of Korea, but trust us when we say he had some pretty close runner-ups. Each man was to dress in his national costume, representing the history and culture of his nation. While just about every model hit the nail on the head, we have to say that America might have misunderstood the rules just a bit.