Thursday, July 4, 2024

MISTER SUPRANATIONAL 2024: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 1)

 

After three years of staying at a low turnout of 34 contestants, the Mister Supranational pageant seems to be poised for a growth spurt, as potentially a record 41 countries confirmed to compete.  However, five dropped out, mostly as no-shows even if some of them submitted introduction videos and showed up for the Supra-Chats.

CUBA - Brandon Alaen.  After a few days of being announced as the Hispano-Caribbean island representative to this pageant, he seemed to have a personal epiphany that was splashed all over his social media and immediately backed out of pageant, and apparently pageantry in general.  We had seen this guy make significant strides when he originally represented the USA in Men Universe Model 2018 to Man of the World 2022 and then to Mister International [Distinctively Handsome] 2023, so I'm hopeful he'll hold very well on his own in this milieu, even if this competition emerged to be one of the most competitive batches in this pageant's history.  Anyway, we all wish this guy the best in his future endeavors.

CAMBODIA -  Chuop Chakkravuth.  There are asome flatering angles where he channels some charisma of an Asian matinee idol, but as you will read on, I have a feeling he will still face an uphill battle making the cut with such a strong group of guys like this batch offers.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Jose Carlos Bemeka / Andres Nyanya Marino.  It seems they intiially selected a representative and then that representative backed out and another one took his place, and even if te latter participated in the Supra-Chat and submitted pre-arrival videos, he ultimately failed to be able to make it in Poland.  Either of te guys look competitive enough that in another year they would've made more serious inroads into the Top 20.


FRANCE - Mathieu Testa.  He seems to be a refreshingly boyish cutie.  I don't know how polished his prjection skills are, as he has potential to parlay that boyish cuteness into serious contention for the Top 20 if he played his cards right.  Wonder what prevented him from showong up, as isnt' it that there is borderless travel between this country and Poland?

GREECE - Nikos Koliogiannis.  He physically seems to fit the swarthy appeal that we see in most Mister Supranational winners, and if he knows how to channel his charisma right, he could've had made serious inroads.  He was the last to back out--what caused him to also no-show considering since this country is part of the European Union like France, there is no restriction for him to travel to Poland?

The 36 contenders who showed up in Malopolska, Poland emerged to be arguably the best batch of guys this pageant ever had.  The standards are raised sky high as this roster features three doctors and a politician, and the ones who might be regarded as the obvious weakest links have likeable personalities and narratives that could win the Panel of Experts over.

ARGENTINA - Guillermo Layus.  He facially resembles the reigning Mister International (Distinctively Handsome) Jose Calle from Spain.  I like him a lot and feel he has strong enough charisma, but he is not generating much buzz here and he's not that renowned for his communication skills.

BRAZIL - Mateus Maia.  He doesn't have the alpha male charisma of his predecessors, but he is still great looking and his multicultural background and fluency with English will serve him very well here, and hence he will still sustain a Top 20 finish at least.

CANADA - Jaime Cesar.  He's the shortest contestant in this batch, with one of the least buffed bods.  In more conventional settings that would make him one of the cellar-dwellers, right?  but he has great communication skills and a likeable personality--that could give him brownie points with the Panel of Experts, right?  Anyway, he has a highlight as a Talent finalist as he sang a self-composed song.  

COLOMBIA - Rafael Rapelo.  He makes a standout impression and exudes exoticism with his Afro-styled curly hair and multi-ethnic blend.  Landing in the Top Three in the Supra-Model competition is well-deserved for this guy and he looks bound for the Top 10.

COTE D'IVOIRE - Firmin Junior Yapi.  He got shortlisted in Supra-Model as he modeled a dramatic outfit that provided an onstage wardrobe change on the catwalk.  If only he could have kept that flair during the preliminary competition, as he didn't quite make a standout impression in that competition.

CZECH REPUBLIC - Adam Sedro.  This guy has a beefy andsomeness and a matter-of-fact communication style that could've made him extraordinarily appealing, but somehow his prospects of landing in the Top 10 fizzled as the days wear on, and just securing a Top 20 spot is achievement enough for him.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Bray Vargas.  It's quite interesting how he proudly declare himself to be a politician, but then I realize it is by that role that he can contribute to the betterment of society, and it seems he has the best of intentions and may be a leader with integrity.  He also has great looks and charisma that made him a finalist in Supra-Model, and have an inside track into the Top 10.

ECUADOR - Fernando Mendieta.  Yes, he has strong communciation skills and outgoing personality, and he is good looking.  But his brand of swarthiness seems to be a bit on the tougher, rougher side that might hamper him from equaling the Top 10 finish of his predecessor, Bruno Barbieri.

GERMANY - Marc Arthur Tsanang.  I'm not certain about his ethnic origins, but it's quite interesting to see a black guy representing this European country.  He seems to have an outgoing personality and solid communication skills, but what I noticed most about him is that he exudeds that Sy Lee*1 vibe, so he's a prime candidate for the Sy Lee Fabulousness award.

*1  That fabulous representative from Denmark at Manhunt International 2016 who is of Vietnamese origin.

COMING UP:  GUATEMALA to MALTA

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