Mister International 2024 selection committee members (from left) Jojo Bragais, Arci Muñoz and Josh Yugen. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
Publisher and public relations practitioner Josh Yugen has joined the selection committee of the 2024 Mister International competition’s finale, bringing to three the number of Filipinos who will help choose the new winner.
The Dubai-based Filipino personality is the franchise holder of the Miss Universe pageant for Pakistan, Bahrain and Egypt.
Announced earlier as members of the committee were actress Arci Muñoz and shoe maker Jojo Bragais, who has partnered with the international competition as official footwear provider. This is his first collaboration with a global male tilt based outside the Philippines.
Bragais has become a household name in the international pageant community. He provided the shoes for the new global tilt Miss Cosmo based in Vietnam, and was a partner of the Miss Universe pageant for three editions.
He shared with INQUIRER.net his thoughts about his upcoming gig. “Most of the time when it comes to female pageantry we look for beauty, brains, personality, story, performance, marketability, to highlight some of the most important aspects. When it comes to male pageantry I want to ask the organization what specifically is their type of winner,” he said.
“However, if based on my personal belief, I want someone who will be able to speak up about issues of men in general, to normalize it. Men by nature keep things to ourselves since men are expected to be strong. May kasabihan na (There is a saying that) men don’t cry. That leads to depression and anxiety and a lot more,” Bragais added.
He also shared that many are still surprised to learn that he also provides footwear for male competitions. “A lot of people are not aware that Bragais has a men’s line,” he shared.
“Moving forward, as part of my personal growth in my shoemaking career, I will be releasing more lines of shoes that will cater to the general consumers for both male and female, and who knows sooner or later, a store in every corner of the Philippines, then the world,” Bragais added.
The 16th Mister International final competition will be held at the Island Hall Fashion Island in Bangkok, Thailand, tonight, Dec. 14. Forty-seven contenders are vying for the title currently held by Thai winner Kim Goodburn.
The Philippines is represented by model and host Justine Ong, who will try to become the second Filipino delegate to be proclaimed Mister International, following hunk cop Neil Perez who won the title in 2014.