Since its inception in 2016, the Mister Supranational pageant has been conducted concurrently with its distaff counterpart and the Polish national pageant Miss Polski. There are practical and economic considerations for conducting it this way, which can be considered synergistic for all three pageants. Let’s just say, the intro paragraph from my Miss Supranational homestretch review could be copied almost word-for-word for this pageant. The minor modification I would make is that the turnout of 34 is equal to its lowest turnout in the 2017 edition. It would’ve been 35, but MALAYSIA (Wan Mohammad Aiman) actually particiapted in the first episode of Supra-Chat, but due to COVID restrictions could not make it. The remaining contestants prove to be a very competitive bunch though, so let’s take a look at them starting with…
ARUBA – Derrel Lampe. He’s fit and attractive, though not generating the needed buzz to make the Top 20. Based on frontal view, it might be assumed he is the most tatted guy in tis batch, but from the swimwear round and with views from the back, there is one guy who holds the most tatted distinction…
BELGIUM – Jean Atekha. He’s actually born of Nigerian parents. He was shortlisted in Top Model, but I’m not that bullish that this will translate to an overall Top 20 finish as there are more compelling and charismatic choices out there.
BRAZIL -João Henrique Lemes. To be blunt, lookswise he seems to be the weakest representative fielded by this pageant powerhouse. I find his facial features plain, his height relatively short, and his physique verging towards being too bulky. Despite some quibbles about his Supra-Chat performance, he actually won his group and placements in Supra Influencer and Supra Fan Vote may provide a path for him to sustain this country’s streak.
COLOMBIA – Manuel Molano He proved that his 1st runner-up finish at the 12th Mister International pageant is no fluke, as he’s competing at a high level here. This deadringer to famous Filipino model Jon Hall is Top Three in Top Model and could possibly win it as he was ferocious on the catwalk and delivered a twist on that “Blue Steel” look parodied on that Ben Stiller cult comedy hit Zoolander. His twist is that you would never mistake him for a vapid himbo like that movie’s title character–he’s fierceness with brains. He can make a play for the Final Five.
CZECH REPUBLIC – David Kremen. There is a manly handsomeness about him and solid communication skills for him to be a Top 20 contender, but his less-than-rippled physique might prevent him from landing that spot.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Ivan Oleaga. He’s not that heavily hyped or buzzed but you cannot find any fault on him to say he doesn’t belong in the Top 20. He could be a worthy, stealthy sleeper choice.
ECUADOR – Mario Iglesias. He’s handsome and a great communicator. However, like BRAZIL, he’s one of the shorter guys and his physique is on the thicker and bulky side. This is most apparent in the formal wear round of the preliminary competition, as he sported an all-white suit that for me looks unflattering. Would his other sterling qualities be able to overcome that quibble?
FRANCE – Fabien Mounoussamy. In previous editions this country tend to field raw duds. Though this guy from the overseas department of Reunion (in the Indian Ocean) is low-key, he actually has a charm about him that he can be a sleeper possibility for the Top 20.
GREECE – Spiros Nikolaidis. At first glance I thought he would be one of those handsome guys who may not have much personality or spark, especially when I watched his terse and colorless introduction video. But buzz about him has been rising that some are even hyping he can go Final Five, and I discovered some social media posts that show he has an outgoing, cheeky side that made me understand where that hype is at.
HAITI – Theodore Bien-Aime. He’s relatively raw compared to the strong contenders out there but in a less competitive year he would’ve been considered middle-of-the-pack. But interestingly, he’s first runner-up in the Supra-Star Search.
INDIA – Rahul Rajasekharan. He’s handsome, and with his background as an actor and TV personality he is outgoing and has good communication skills. But sometimes I feel he seems a tad over-prepared that as much as based on looks I would rank him as the top Asian, I have a feeling a fellow from his region would take that distinction instead.
INDONESIA – Okky Alparessi. He’s actually in the same boat as BRAZIL, albeit I find his trim physique more to my liking and no one can find fault with his communication skills, from Supra-Chat and others.
KOREA – Cho Young-Dong. He has a potential to channel a K-Pop type of charisma, and he comes close to that, but I feel not enough for him to be a serious Top 20 contender.
MALTA – Raffael Fiedler. Many are buzzing about his refreshing brand of handsomeness that some are thinking he can upset the two mega-charismatic frontrunners in this competition. He is Top Three in Top Model and he’s a down=to-earth but thoughtful communicator, so he could pull that off.
MEXICO – Gustavo Rosas. He has this outgoing charm about him combined with his handsome boyish looks (with that hint of scruff) that many (including myself) assume he’s on the road to a Final FIve finish. As stellar as he still is, though, buzz seems to have faded and contenders like COLOMBIA, MALTA, NEPAL, and TOGO overtaking him in buzz, not to mention rising buzz about GREECE and MOROCCO. I still wouldn’t count him out of contention though–his qualities are too undeniable.
MOROCCO – Walid Chakir. He’s in the same boat as GREECE, with a rougher, sexier, almost bad-boy vibe. I find him also relatively on the shorter side but I understand how his appeal can be undeniable.
NEPAL – Santosh Upadhyaya. He got his ticket to compete via the Supra Star Search competition. Even if he’s one of the shortest contestants in this batch, everything about him is so sterling that he can make a play for the Final Five. He actually has the charisma of a Bollywood star, he has a background as a medical doctor, and with that has superb communication skills, and on top of that he’s a poet and musician. He seems to be the most likely winner of the Talent competition with his performance of a traditional Nepalese song (and I think also reciting a poem). This renaissance man can be the top performing Asian in this batch.
COMING UP: NETHERLANDS to VENEZUELA
Joseph Vitug's Views 