Switzerland prevails! Pedro Mendes is Mister International 2015

The grueling wait is over. After religiously watching two weeks of nonstop pageant activities and finals that lasted close to five hours, the 10^th year edition of Mister International is finally over. In what could be the most frustratingly unpredictable edition of the pageant where picking the candidates most likely to win was everyone’s guessing game, the final crop of winners is out. The die is cast and everyone can now put behind the never-ending squabbling, heckling, guesstimating and recalculating of outcomes.

Now it can be told, Switzerland’s Pedro Mendes came out on top of the heap. He is Mister International 2015, taking over the helm from Mister International 2014, Philippines’ Neil Perez. In his trail are Brazil, Anderson Tomazini – 1^st Runner-up; Korea, Sang Jin Li - 2^nd Runner-up; Panama, Julian Javier Torres, 3^rdRunner-up; and Czech Republic; Jakub Kraus - 4^th Runner-up.

Miss Philippines baits Miss Scuba International 2015

Congratulations to Cindy Pacia Madduma who fished one more pageant crown for the Philippines this year after she was adjudged Miss Scuba International 2015 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia on Friday, November 27, 2015. She takes over the crown from Miss Scuba International 2014, Tabitha Lipkin of the United States. Members of her court are the sea nymphs from Venezuela, Kiara Aiello Holden; United States, Tessa Ptacek; Latvia, Ilzze Jankovska; and United Kingdom, Sarah Mariko Winterbottom in that order.

Recipients of special awards are Miss Philippines – Miss Marine Conservation and Best in National Costume, Miss Latvia – Miss Photogenic and Best in Talent, and Miss Venezuela – Miss Congeniality. The event was the 5^th edition of the pageant anchored on scuba diving and marine conservation while celebrating the inner beauty and courage of today’s women. Apart from the staple swimsuit, evening gown and interview portions, the candidates were also judged on marine conservation advocacy and safe diving practices. Way to go Ladies and all defenders of the Earth's seas.

Fantastic Five for Mister International 2015

In a flight of fancy, we came up with our fearless forecast of the winners in the title fight for Mister International 2015, actual results to be known five days from now. (L-R) Brazil, Anderson Tomazini – 3^rd RU; France, Bryan Weber – 1^st RU; Spain, Daniel Barreres – Mister International 2015; Switzerland, Pedro Mendes – 2^ndRU and Panama, Julian Javier Torres – 4^th RU. The following five will constitute the top ten: Puerto Rico, Philippines, Italy, Australia and the Dominican Republic. Tickle your fancy!  

How good grooming can do wonders to a candidate's pageant bid

Perhaps we are being overly simplistic or even nitpicky but sometimes basic grooming and neat appearance can spell the difference whether you make it or break it in pageant battlefield. Assuming that one is not hopeless in other respects, the look or style of the contestant can be crucial in judging. A pageant entrant’s look should not only catch the judges attention but more importantly match the pageant’s image and gain the judges approval. We suppose such was the case with our reigning Mr. Universal Ambassador, Daniel Christian Ortiz of Puerto Rico.

Going loco over Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is really showing off its pageant muscle, scooping up one mister pageant title after another - all in a single pageant year. The best we’ve seen so far. It’s not like winning one or two pageant titles one year after another. It’s record breaking in more ways than one. This is nuts!

Three in a row for Puerto Rico as it captures Mister Model International 2015

Puerto Rico assumes supremacy in a stunning sweep of mister pageant titles this year. Melvin Roman captures yet another title for Puerto Rico as he emerged winner of Mister Model International 2015, coming on the heels of Daniel Christian Ortiz as Mr. Universal Ambassador 2015 and Jose Alfredo Galarza as Mister Tourism International 2015.

Puerto Rico cops Mr. Universal Ambassador 2015

Daniel Christian Ortiz of Puerto Rico becomes the first ever Mr. Universal Ambassador winning the 1^stedition of the pageant at Gedung Kesenian Cak Durasim in Surabaya, Indonesia on November 11, 2015. Members of his court are Brett Murray Stratton, Oceania Federation – 1^st Runner-up, Izuchukwu Anoelifo, Nigeria – 2^ndRunner-up, Jagjeet Singh, India – 3^rd Runner-up, and Reinukky Abidharma, Indonesia – 4^th Runner-up.

Honduras' Kilber Gutierrez goes for the Globe

After not having placed in Mr. Real Universe 2015 in spite of being among the early favorites a month ago, Honduras’ Kilber Benjamin Gutierrez Ponce is not dampened as he sets sights on Mister Globe 2016 coming this November 14-22, 2015 in Paris, France. (Unlike many pageants, this one is an early bird. The winner of Mister Globe 2015 is Madagascar's Ismael Aiaz. See our March 26, 2015 post.) Nothing to be frowned upon, after all Mr. Real Universe 2015, Cristobal Alvarez Leiva from Chile was also a crossover candidate from Mister Global 2015. So who knows, things can turn up as brightly for him this time around.   

Miss Philippines is crowned Miss International Queen 2015

Hurray to Miss Philippines Trixie Maristela for gaining back the crown of Miss International Queen which three years ago topped the lovely tresses of another Miss Philippines, Kevin Balot, Miss International Queen 2012. She was flanked by Miss Brazil, Valesca Dominik Ferraz and Miss Thailand, Sopida Siriwattananukoon who were named 1^stand 2^nd runners-up respectively.

The case of the paired pageants

At the height of Mister Model International and Mister Universal Ambassador competitions which are simultaneously rolling in Florida, USA and Surabaya, Indonesia respectively, we veer off to take a cursory look instead at two little-known newly evolved mister pageants with almost identical names as the aforementioned two.  We are speaking of Mister Model Revolution International and Mister Universal World. Duh! Doesn’t that make you think they are close relatives of each other or clones of sorts?