THE BORNEO POST ONLINE
DECEMBER 25, 2007
More than meets the eye in male pageants
WELCOME TO SARAWAK: Yong (fifth left) with the contestants
of the Mister International 2007.KUCHING: Contestants of the Mister International 2007 yesterday strongly defended male pageants as these contests are often frowned upon by society.
They said there was more than meets the eye in this pageant and that there was a nobler cause than just selecting the ‘hunkiest’ among them. Mr Lebanon — 28-year-old Bassel Abou Hamdan said the people should not have any negative thoughts about male pageants as just like any others, it advocated peace and unity among the other countries.
He added taking part in male pageants such as Mr International enriched his personal experience as he could travel to different countries and interacted with people there.
“I believe such negative thoughts surrounding male pageants will eventually blow over and it will be more acceptable as people see the benefits it brings. It all depends on what you think and what you believe in at the end of it all,” he said.
Bassel, a personal trainer and had modelled for big international brands like Dolce and Gabanna in Milan, said he got the chance to enter Mister International when he won the Mr Lebanon title and was recommended by the president of that pageant committee to vie for the Mr International 2007.
He conceded that the pressure was on for him as the winner of the inaugural Mister International held in Singapore last year was his countryman Wissam Hanna.
“When you think about it, you feel this time round it’s definitely not going to be me but anything can happen and nothing is impossible. Besides, I feel I have already won when I got the chance to come to this great country, “he said smiling.
Mr Brazil, 29-year-old Alan Bianco Martini Malgioglio said the pageant was just the same and equally important as any other pageants as it also promoted humanitarian values besides being a platform for men to present their personalities and project their confidence.
He said the contestants also got to travel the world and meet with people in different countries.
Malgioglio, a model and also a television show host back home, said that he got to enter Mister International through winning a pageant in Brazil.
“Kuching is lovely and so are its people. When I go back to Brazil, I will carry these fond memories with me and share it to my people back home,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr USA, 24-year-old Jacob Hill, believed that one should look at these pageants with an open mind.
“Well, especially in the USA, it’s not seen as masculine but that’s fine with me because I’m an open minded person and up for new challenges,” said the model cum musician from Boston, Massachusetts.
He said numerous opportunities opened up through these pageants, giving the contestants a chance to travel and meet great personalities along the way.
He said that for the past few days, travelling with the other contestants was like visiting all their countries as we exchanged information on our cultures. “You learn so much so quickly.”
Hill revealed that he was approached to enter the pageant after the organisers came across his portfolio on the Internet. He was supposed to enter the pageant last year but could not make it he was involved in a car accident.
“We went to the museum yesterday and hang around to get over the jet-lag. I love Kuching. Its cool as it reminds me of being in the Caribbean,” he added.
HOME | BIO | GALLERIES | RAFA'S BLOG | SPONSORS
BECOME A SPONSOR | PRESS INFO | CHARITY | BECOME MR. USA | CONTACT US
