A 23-year-old model and University of Port Harcourt undergraduate, Samuel Nwajaju has made history by becoming the first African to win the Mister International pageant.
The Nigerian won the 16th edition of the pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.
Established in 2006 by the late Alan Sim, the former president and founder, Mister International is one of the world’s largest male beauty pageants.
The Singapore-based organisation has grown to attract participants from over 80 countries, with an annual average of 38 contestants.
For the first time in 16 years, the Mister International Organisation allowed fathers, married, and divorced men to compete.
Mr Nwajaju, who also won the Best Swimwear category, secured the title by competing against 47 other contestants, the highest number in the pageant’s history.
He succeeds Kim Thitisan Goodburn of Thailand, defeating formidable competitors, including Vietnam’s Nguyễn Mạnh Lân, who was placed as first runner-up and Indonesia’s Glenn Victor Sutanto, who was placed second runner-up.
Mr Nwajaju secured his place in this year’s competition in June by winning the Mister of Nigeria 2024 title during a grand event at the Lagos Oriental Hotel.
Though the specific cash prize for the Mister International competition is not explicitly disclosed, winners enjoy various forms of recognition.
Such recognitions include sponsorships, endorsements, and opportunities to collaborate with global brands and organisations.
