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Mister International 2007 - National Costume

tarlia — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:56:05 +0000

I’m an easy-going bum when it comes to updating my blog, which is exactly how I like it because my life is full of distractions. Not great if you’re easily distracted. With the Mister International 2007 series of posts, I feel committed. :-P And I’m ignoring most other things, like answering emails.

So here’s the last item from the programme for the Main Event , or technically it’s the first, but I’m playing it in reverse. This is when all the contestants first stepped out on stage.

National Costume is never strictly “national costume”. It’s more of a creative interpretation of the country’s traditional costume, thrown into a blender with icons and symbols that is unique to them. Or none of the above. I don’t know. I don’t pay enough attention to beauty pageants.

Lawron â€˜Lawrenceâ€™ Leung of Canada: I’m not sure when latex pants became the national costume of Canada, but then again, a tuque and parka (or so says this page) is equally “eh?”

Berni Madrigal Alguera of Costa Rica: The traditional costume of Costa Rica is similar to those in Central or South American countries, so it’s just kinda familiar and simple and not very remarkable.

Amr Samaha of Egypt: Amr in a modern mash of what Egypt will always be known for. What you don’t see in this photo is the huge red ankh on the back of his cape.

Aristotelis Spyridon Bolovinos of ~~Sparta~~ Greece: His costume merits two photos. Huge cheers from the crowd when he pulled the helmet off.

Nikhil Dhawan of India: By default, India has awesome costumes. No exception here. And in pink!

Raffaele Merico of Italy: Who is teh serious. And apart from the red scarf, his costume looks similar to Costa Rica’s.

Oh Jong Sung of Korea: Looking very proper and absurdly demure, which belies how bouncy he really is in person.

Armands Berzins of Latvia: This guy made a subtly dramatic entrance. Does that make sense? He posed with a flourish at the entrance, but you’d only notice if you were not busy checking out Jong Sung’s ass when he goes back up the stage.

Bassel Abu Hamdan of Lebanon: Whose costume is all shiny and bejewelled under a dark over-garment. He picked up Best National Costume.

Adib Othman of Malaysia: If you’re from Sarawak and you’re representing Malaysia, you’re damn well wearing the Iban togs.

Gabriel Goh of Singapore: I honestly never wondered what Singapore’s national costume is. Apparently it’s the Punjabi suit, or at least, that’s the costume adopted by Singaporean Indians.

Amila Karunanayake of Sri Lanka: Is anyone else thinking “snake charmer”?

Jake Hill of USA: I certainly didn’t know he was about to make a dorky face. I sense that this is going to hit the “caption this” threads. Sorry Jake!

Alberto Garcia of Venezuela: Alberto is all teeth under that hat.

The end! Extralicious posts may come after I’m done with my work this week!

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Mister International 2007 - Fashion Show

tarlia — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:12:50 +0000

I’ve made so many posts about Mister International 2007 that it has its own category now! And I’m only a little past halfway done!

Meet Edric Ong. We love him because he knows how to clothe hot men and make them smoulder even more. I just bet he looked at Jong Sung and went, “You’re obviously wearing something that’ll show off that chest.”

As I’m working backwards, we’re in the Fashion Show category now before the top 10 were selected. Ergo, you get all of them here. Enjoy.

Gudiel Osberto Rivera Mansilla of Guatemala: Ok, seriously? I didn’t like his outfit. It looked like a t-shirt with a mat pinned to the chest.

Amr Samaha of Egypt: Amr is the youngest contestant, although he doesn’t look so. Great hair (I have a soft spot for guys with long/long-ish hair), great smile. I didn’t really dig hairy until I met him. Did I just say that aloud?

Nikhil Dhawan of India: I regret never getting around to talking to this guy. He was in my interview list, but things got in the way and it didn’t happen.

Gabriel Goh of Singapore: Gabriel is gonna go Hang Tuah on your ass. And I can spell his name without assistance.

Lawron ‘Lawrence’ Leung of Canada: Holy action shot, Batman.

Alan Martini of Brazil: Another one who must show chestitude whenever possible. Just because.

Bassel Abu Hamdan of Lebanon: He has such pretty eyes. Why do men have prettier eyes while the women have to resort to mascara and eyelash perming?

Oh Jong Sung of Korea: As I was saying, there’s no way anyone with eyes will allow him to cover up that chest when you have a wardrobe full of tops meant to be worn open.

Amila Karunanayake of Sri Lanka: That’s a great colour.

Alberto Garcia of Venezuela: He with the incredible smile.

Aristotelis Spyridon Bolovinos of Greece: Does he not look like Tom Welling when he brushes his hair down like that?

Adib Othman of Malaysia: Wide shoulders = suit of bark.

Raffaele Merico of Italy: A white knight with a floaty scarf.

Armands Berzins of Latvia: Still regal.

Jake Hill of USA: Who really needs to slow down on the catwalk because this is another one I caught later.

That’s all folks. Show’s over… till the next update.

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Mister International 2007 - Swimwear

tarlia — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:18:19 +0000

A warm Sarawakian hello to those of you who popped over from Critical Beauty, and thanks to USA’s National Director Rafa Delfin for linking. I’ve had more hits today than I did in the whole of last month! O.o;

Well, aren’t you in luck today? I decided to stick to working backwards, so next on the list is Swimwear. If you’re partial to drooling, please take precaution and protect your keyboard or whoever’s shoulder you’re peeking over.

If you hope to model, your body is your asset. Swimwear is where we see the most skin on stage, which must be quite a daunting task unless you look like… well, some of these guys.

One interesting observation: Some of the men are completely relaxed and comfortable strolling down the catwalk with nothing but a triangle of spandex between them and the world. Some are not, but hide it behind a smile. Some looked much better in a 3-piece suit, ~~and some I won’t mind seeing with a little less~~.

I tried including some witty commentary but I fail because I am only a woman… with too many of these kinda photos in my HD. Enjoy.

Alberto Garcia of Venezuela

Oh Jong Sung of Korea

Armands Berzins of Latvia

Aristotelis Spyridon Bolovinos of Greece

Jake Hill of USA

Berni Madrigal Alguera of Costa Rica

Bassel Abu Hamdan of Lebanon

Gabriel Goh from Singapore

Nikhil Dhawan of India

Alan Martini of Brazil

Sometimes it isn’t necessary to face the world in your trunks to be sexy. Sometimes a long skirt with a slit up the side is sexier than a mini. Sometimes I had a better zoom feature on my camera, or at least, was on that side of the stage before they whipped of the sarong, because I didn’t get to shoot things like this:

Move over, Tarzan.

Now someone please pass the oxygen.

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Mister International 2007 - Evening Wear

tarlia — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:55:46 +0000

I normally don’t give much thought to men’s evening wear, because women’s tend to be more varied by far. But at Mister International 2007 where there was no women on stage to steal their thunder, I had a chance to notice what they were wearing and what the overall effect was.

The Old World Charm

Alberto Garcia of Venezuela was a shining vision in white, complete with a cravat held close with a jewelled pin. I like the old world touch, even if the blinding white frightens the domestic side of me.

The Bodyguard

Oh Jong Sung of Korea opted for the open neck and open jacket look. Given that this guy occasionally works as a bodyguard, he’ll need clothes he can kick ass in and still look good. There’s nothing fastened around his neck that can be grabbed in a scuffle, but I can’t imagine him with a tie of any sort. Jong Sung looks good in clothes as well as out of them, but that’s a story for another post.

The Prince

Armands Berzins of Latvia carries himself like a prince, so this classic look with a bow tie works perfectly. You can almost imagine him mingling with royalty in one of those charity balls.

The Secret Agent

Gabriel Goh from Singapore went for the James Bond look with shiny lapels and a bigger bow tie. I almost expected him to pull out a gun and do a 007 pose.

The Ambassador

Nikhil Dhawan of India adds a dash of culture to his outfit.

The Noose Brothers

Aristotelis Spyridon Bolovinos of Greece

Berni Madrigal Alguera of Costa Rica

Bassel Abu Hamdan of Lebanon

Alan Martini of Brazil

~~I am missing a photo of Jake Hill from USA. It came out blurred because he was already moving when I shot. Oh well, nearly got them all.~~ I found one of him from later that evening after the results were announced! Ta-dah!

Jake Hill of USA

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Mister International 2007

tarlia — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:03:03 +0000

I know some of you are dying to know who won the Mister International 2007 pageant, so if you’re reading this before the papers tomorrow, I’ll cut to the chase.

Presenting Alan Bianco Martini Malgioglio of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is the very first contestant I interviewed when my boss sent me to Telang Usang to get the scoop on the 21st December. Alan dreams of nothing but being a model and worked very hard to get there, so I’m very pleased for him. :-D

He is a very sweet and gallant man who tries very hard to connect with you even if he doesn’t speak your language. Ok, he’s damn hot too, with a profile that could cut glass and a smile that’ll melt kneecaps. I hope the Mister Singapore Organization will keep us up to date with his adventures as their new titleholder.

Long story and way too many photos under the cut.

The top ten out of the 17 16 contestants were made up of Brazil, Costa Rica, Korea, Lebanon, Venezuela, USA, Costa Rica, Singapore, Greece and Latvia. Taiwan dropped out at the 11th hour. I forgot to ask the organisers why.

The ten were whittled down to Korea, Lebanon, Brazil, Venezuela and Greece.

The top five.

Wissam Hanna, last year’s titleholder, takes a last stroll as Mister International.

Wissam of Lebanon had his life completely changed by his win last year.

In the ensuing excitement, I forgot to take photos. One by one, the following were called off that side of the stage:

Fourth Runner-up: Mister Lebanon Bassel Abou Hamdan
Third Runner-up: Mister Venezuela Alberto Garcia
Second Runner-up: Mister Greece Aristotellis Spyridon Bolovinos

The two who were left, Mister Korea Oh Jong Sung and Mister Brazil Alan Martini looked at each other and hugged for a long time.

Serious awww factor going here.

Some praying probably occurred here.

Mr Korea got called as First Runner-up. Alan reacted while Wissam claimed dibs on congratulating his successor.

Wissam about to place the sash on Alan, who is trying hard to hold himself together.

So not holding himself together.

Mr Korea was the next one to tackle him, followed by the other contestants in a good few minutes of manly group hugs.

The top five with their trophies.

Apart from being an awesome photo, I also want you to notice that unbeknownst to our new Mister International, someone was about to drop the flag of Brazil on him.

Which destroyed his composure completely.

Jong Sung, Alan and Wissam. Back-up, Present and Past.

Most awesome New Year’s Eve party ever. (Ok, maybe it was my only NYE party ever, but it was worth it.) If I’m feeling diligent, I’ll post the rest of the pageant photos. Editing is such a pain in the ass. Meanwhile, Ducky has photos here.

Huge thanks to Alaric Soh from Alaric’s Production Company for making sure I get an “I’m not working!” ticket to the event, and to Alan Sim of Mister Singapore Organization for founding a pageant the straight girls can enjoy for once.

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