An aspiring actor from the Dominican Republic has made history by becoming the first contestant from his country to win a major male beauty pageant. Manuel Franco, 21, beat 34 other contestants to the Mister International 2022 crown at a ceremony held in Quezon City, Philippines, on Sunday night.
India's Lukanand Kshetrimayum placed second, while Orangel Dirinot from Venezuela won third place. Myron Jude Ordillano, from the host country Philippines, placed fifth.
"On this day, I’m trying to make history for my country. Imagine the first male grand slam winner in beauty pageants for Dominican Republic… Would be crazy😅," Franco posted hours before the finals.
Soon after he was crowned, he added: "Thanks Everyone for the support. Thanks Philippines for the experience, was grateful and awesome. Thanks to Dominican Republic."
Hailing from Espaillat Province in the north, Franco is a business student who juggles his studies with TV and stage work, as well as his modelling career. He dreams of becoming a successful actor and director.
During the past week, contestants have been put through their paces, taking part in various preliminary competitions, including a costume round, as well as interviews. They've also had the opportunity to tour the sights and sounds of host Quezon City.
The annual competition, one of two major global contests along with Mister World, has been held since 2006. The event was cancelled for three years, from 2019 to 2021, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, Trinh Bao from Vietnam, who won the title in 2018, was the longest title holder.
Lebanon has won the most Mister International titles, winning three times in 2006, 2012 and 2016. Wissam Hanna, the winner of the first pageant in 2006, is a well-known actor and presenter living in Dubai.
Bangkok will host the next Mister International pageant in October next year.
Miss Universe 2022 beauty queens crowned, from Turkey to Italy and Kyrgyzstan — in pictures
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Miss Universe Turkey 2022 is Aleyana Sirin. Photo: Instagram / Aleyanasirinn -
Miss Universe Italy 2022 is Virginia Stablum. Photo: / Instagram / Virginia.Stablum -
Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan 2022 is Altynai Botoyarova. Photo: Instagram / botoyarova_altynai -
Evlin Khalifa, 24, is the second Miss Universe Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Miss Universe Spain, Alicia Faubel, comes from Alicante and has lived in Dubai and the Philippines. Photo: Instagram / alicia.aliccia -
Divita Rai, 23, winner of India's Miss Diva Universe 2022. Photo: Miss Diva -
Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal -
Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Photo: Miss South Africa -
Anna Sueangam-iam was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Universe -
Balsam Hussein when she was declared Miss Iraq 2022. Azhar Al-Rubaie for The National -
Yasmina Zaytoun after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 at Forum De Beirut. EPA -
Noky Simbani was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2022. Photo: Instagram / Miss Universe Great Britain -
Miss Ukraine 2022 is Viktoria Apanasenko, first runner-up from last year's contest. There was no pageant held this year owing to the war in the country. Photo: Instagram / Viktoria Apanasenko -
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau has been named Miss Universe Vietnam 2022. Photo: Facebook / Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau -
Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in Manila. EPA-EFE -
Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden is the country's first beauty queen. Photo: Tashi Choden -
Laksmi Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe. Photo: Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana -
Miss Universe Ghana 2022 Engracia Afua K Mofuman was one of the first women to be crowned in 2022, in order to compete in the 71st Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Engracia Mofuman -
Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Hanna Ming -
The first and last time the Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and so, after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country. Photo: Gabriella Gonthier/ Miss University Africa -
Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Canada -
Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, 26, is the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Photo: Instagram / officialmissuniversejamaica
