SAM ADJANI will compete in the 2016 Mister World. LEO M. SABANGAN II
Heartened by Megan Young’s Miss World victory last year, Philippine organizers are hopeful that the country will also achieve its first victory in the Mister World competition in England this year.
Cory Quirino, local franchise holder, expressed confidence that the Philippines could score twin victories in the two global competitions.
“We’ve had success with Megan Young, why shouldn’t we win Mister World, too?” Quirino said.
She presented two gentlemen to a smalll group of judges: 2012 Century Superbods winner John Spainhour and model Sam Adjani.
The judges chose to send 26-year-old Spainhour to London this year. Quirino announced that 24-year-old Adjani would be sent to the 2016 competition. The competition is held every two years.
“Both are very much qualified to represent the Philippines. I didn’t want to lose any of them. So I made the unprecedented decision to keep them both,” Quirino told the Inquirer.
Spainhour’s military background gave him the edge in a close contest.
Marine training
The Filipino-American spent five years in the United States Marine Corps, as part of the elite sniper team.
“I missed the guns,” Spainhour said about his stint in the Marines.
Quirino explained that “the Mister World is a different contest. It includes combat training (with the British Army), sports challenges and a social media component.”
Andrew Wolff, who placed second in the 2012 pageant, was surprised at how physically demanding the contest was, even if he had undergone rigorous training as a member of the Philippine national rugby team.
JOHN Spainhour’s military background can help him bring home the title. INQSnap this page for more photos and a video! LEO M. SABANGAN II
Quirino said Wolff’s participation was a learning experience, equipping the organization with useful information on what kind of a person could excel in the Mister World competition, described as the search for “the most desirable man in the world” by international organizers.
Spainhour said he was looking forward to his trip to England where he would compete against 60 other international delegates.
Long journey
Persian-Filipino Adjani, meanwhile, will start a long journey to prepare for the next global competition. Quirino said her organization had already struck an agreement with the Philippine Army to help Adjani with his combat training.
Both Spainhour and Adjani received $2,000 in cash and an additional $1,000 pocket money from Bench, which is also giving both one-year modeling contracts.
The 2014 Mister World finals will be held in Torbay in the English Riviera on June 15 (June 16 in Manila).