Mister World to finally stage another competition after five years

Mister World Philippines Kirk Bondad (left) and reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

Five years after last staging a competition, the Mister World contest will finally crown a new king, with the release of an official announcement declaring the final date and venue of the next contest.

“Mr. World 2024 Final has been rescheduled to be held one week later, with the final event taking place on October 5th, a Saturday. The candidates will start arriving in Vietnam on September 17th,” the male tilt said on social media on Friday, Aug. 2.

The last time a Mister World competition was held was in 2019, for the 10th edition that was held in Manila. England’s Jack Heslewood bested 71 other aspirants for the title, with the Philippines’ JB Saliba finishing in the Top 12.

The Mister World competition used to be held every two years, but the recent contest was held three years after the ninth edition conducted in 2016, where India’s Rohit Khandelwal was proclaimed as the winner.

The Miss World Philippines Organization has already appointed the country’s representative to the global search as early as two years ago, with the national title awarded to model Kirk Bondad, winner of the 2022 Century Superbods search.

A two-year waiting period would tire out many other pageant delegates, but not Bondad. “I know how to keep myself busy, and I’m a workaholic. I find ways how to be proactive. I never really waited, that’s the wrong word to say,” he told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova’s press conference held at the Grand Westside Hotel in Parañaque City on July 17.

“I think now I’m relieved that it’s finally happening, to say the least, but also very excited, because, of course, it was something always at the back of our mind,” continued Bondad, who in the past two years has enjoyed the perks of his national title, appearing in several local beauty pageants and sharing his time doing charity work for several foundations. “Now that it’s finally happening, I feel like the fire is already keeping up. It’s ramping up the motors. So let’s go!” he added.

Bondad sees his two-year wait as a blessing. “It made me more mature just because of how dynamic my past two lives were. There were so many ups and downs. And honestly, I think it was the biggest advantage of me, if anything. I’m much more of a man than I was two years ago, and I think, as a competitor, I’m more dangerous and it will be definitely shown on stage,” he declared.

As a proud “Igorot” whose mother is from Baguio, Bondad hinted at something new to offer as a Filipino delegate. If the country’s previous candidates showcased the tropical wonders, such as the beaches and the island getaways, he has prepared a pitch for the northern part of the Philippines.

“I want to show Mountain Province, I want to show Ilocos. I want to showcase the beautiful landscapes of that area, where I feel like a lot of people, especially in the Western world, might not be too familiar about. So I’m going to showcase that, and I think it will be very surprising for a lot of people,” he said.

Bondad is poised to score the Philippines’ first victory in the 28-year-old international male competition. The country’s highest placement was posted by Andrew Wolf, who finished as first runner-up at the 2012 Mister World contest held in the United Kingdom.