Mr. Philippines Kirk Bondad. Image: Facebook/Miss World
Model and content creator Kirk Bondad will try to give the Philippines its first victory in the Mr. World contest as the male tilt stages its final competition show tonight in Vietnam.
Held five years since last mounting a contest in Manila in 2019, the male counterpart of the Miss World pageant breaks its hiatus through the “Mr. World Festival” in the Southeast Asian nation, culminating in a final competition in Phan Thiet, east of Ho Chi Minh City.
The Philippines may be an international pageant powerhouse when it comes to women’s competitions, but global male titles prove to be elusive.
Filipino contenders have brought home the Mister International, Mister Global and Manhunt International titles, among others, but the country still has not posted a Mr. World victory.
Bondad was appointed as Mr. World Philippines in 2022, and was supposed to represent the country in the international competition initially slated that year, but it did not push through as planned. He later took part in the Century Superbods contest, also in the same year, and convincingly topped the male category.
The German-Filipino contender is currently in the running for several “fast-track” awards, whose winners will earn a guaranteed slot in the semifinals tonight.
Bondad is among the Top 5 delegates in contention for “Top Model,” and is courting votes for “Mr. People’s Choice.” He also recently snagged the top post in the online poll for the “Best in National Costume People’s Choice” award. He hurdled the first cut for “Head-to-Head” and Talent, but missed out on the succeeding elimination round.
But it will not be an easy path for Bondad, who will try to edge out 59 other aspirants for the Mr. World title currently held by Jack Heslewood, who won in the contest’s 10th staging held in the Philippines in 2019.
Among the contenders is Australia’s Lochian Carey who won in the 21st Manhunt International: Male Supermodel contest held in Manila in 2022. Pueto Rico’s Danny Mejia and the United States’ Daryn Friedman have also secured their semifinal placements already for topping the Sports Challenge and Head-to-Head Challenge, respectively.