Pretty boy Sergio Alejandro Azuaga of Venezuela, a 20-year-old model from the capital city of Caracas, edged out 22 delegates from all over the world and walked away with the Man of the World 2024 crown, during the World Finals held at the Winford Resort & Casino Manila, in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Friday night.
Azuaga was crowned by Man of the World 2022 Aditya Khurana of India who substituted for Man of the World 2023 Jin Wook Kim of South Korea, who could not make it to the country due to typhoon Gaemi.
The Philippines’ Kenneth Vincent Cabungcal, a 24-year-old civil engineer was named first runner-up, while France’s Gwen Jegouzo was second runner-up. Puerto Rico’s Fernando Ezequiel Padín, and Ecuador’s Sebastián Mora (who also won Mister Congeniality) finished as third and fourth runners-up, respectively.
During the question-and-answer round, Azuaga was asked to explain a quote from Harry Potter author JK Rowling, “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
Azuaga, who was cheered by his mother at the side, answered in halting English, “Sometimes you have the ability to become the person that you are not. But your choices really show who you are and what you want.”
Azuaga, the first Venezuelan to win in the Manila-based pageant, now on its sixth year, won the best in swimwear and favorite of press special awards.
“I love the Filipinos who always smile no matter what happens, even when it’s raining hard, like these past days,” Azuaga said in a message after his victory.
Rounding out the Top 10 finalists were Brazil’s Miguel Leles (Best in Physique), Eritrea’s Paulos Tecle, India’s Lavesh Mohan Bharambe (Best in National Costume), Spain’s Sergio Avila (Mister Photogenic), and Vietnam’s Doan Cong Vinh. The Top 15 included Australia’s Amit Singh Saini, Colombia’s David Linares, Dominican Republic’s Junior Mendoza, Malaysia’s Edison Ho, and United Kingdom’s Kazim Keskin.
Presented by PEPPs Foundation, Inc., founders of Misters of Filipinas pageant, headed by president Carlo Morris Galang, the Man of the World pageant celebrates ‘Masculinity with Responsibility’ and aims to promote youth empowerment, education, tourism, culture, and heritage.
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