Is Pageantry Just About Vanity? These Beauty Kings Weigh In

Beyond mere vanity

Beauty kings present a refined sense of strength and masculinity. Instead of overt displays of power and dominance, they showcase this combination of mental toughness and peak physical form. Every pose, smile, and spiel on stage, a culmination of months, even years of training, discipline, and willpower.

This year, seven kings from the Philippines will represent the country on the global pageant circuit, selected by Mister Pilipinas Worldwide. It’s a diverse cast of pageant veterans and rookies: Michael Angelo Toledo, Kenneth Marcelino, Kitt Cortez, Raven Lansagan, Jether Palomo, Kenneth Cabungcal, and one of the VMEN from our inaugural print issue, Kirk Bondad.

Each king brings a unique perspective on pageants: how it redefines masculinity and vanity, and how it’s a fitting platform for representation. Get to know more about each of the kings below:

Kitt Cortez

Mister Pilipinas Eco International 2025

A pageant veteran, Kitt is a professional host and voiceover talent outside of competitions. As someone who’s used to facing audiences all the time, he keeps his mind and body in check at all times so he can deliver. 

“I make sure to work out as much as I can and get quality sleep. Reading books is also important—I particularly like reading up on philosophy,” he shares.

On one hand, Kitt sees pageants as an opportunity for more prestigious hosting gigs, or even avenues toward the entertainment industry. But more importantly, it’s a transformative journey for him.

“Pageants aren’t just about showing yourself off. Personally, it’s also about proving that you can overcome your past self—your old routines, habits, for example. After all, it’s not about the recognition after the pageant; it’s about the man that you have become afterward.”

Jether Palomo

Mister Pilipinas Global 2025

Jether leads this exciting duality of being a college student and representing the country on the international stage. 

The Filipino-American model admitted that he joined pageants to fulfill a wish. “I come from a family of seven, and my mom has five boys. She has always wanted a Miss Universe, but we couldn’t give her that. So, I wanted to join pageants as a gift to her,” he quips. 

Jether takes a different mindset when it comes to pushing himself. “For me, it’s not about being the best, but doing my best at all times,” he says. This includes staying on top of a strict sleep schedule, ensuring proper nutrition and hydration, and enjoying the motions of his fitness routines—currently, boxing is his jam. 

He sees pageants as a healthy balance of culture and vanity. “It wouldn’t be called ‘beauty pageants’ without beauty, after all. That blend of vanity and presenting who you are is what we offer, and that’s why I joined pageants.”

Kenneth Marcelino

Mister Pilipinas Cosmopolitan 2025

“With pageants, I represent not only myself, but my community as well,” shares Kenneth, a model and freelance makeup artist. “I’m happy to be given a platform where we can influence others.”

Reflecting on his Mister Pilipinas Worldwide journey, Kenneth has connected with a diverse cast of men: guys in their thirties, fathers, fitness trainers, and more. He notes that by showcasing many different backgrounds on a platform like a pageant, it can hopefully motivate more men to join and inspire others.

“After all, we want to share our stories not only within the Philippines, but also worldwide.”

Kenneth is quite balanced with his preparations for his upcoming international pageant. “We need to be disciplined with our time and health, yes. But I think a few snacks are okay—just work out harder and eat more fruits and vegetables after. And read! Because we also need to feed our minds.”

Kenneth Cabungcal 

Mister Pilipinas Supranational 2025

“Pageantry changed my life. It helped me find my purpose,” says Kenneth. By this, he’s pointing toward creating better circumstances for himself and his family. That through winning pageants, he’s able to inspire others like him who joined competitions to move upward in life. 

“That’s why I believe that pageants are more than just a display of vanity. It can help solve problems, or even uplift communities through our advocacies.”

This year marks Kenneth’s return to the international stage, having won first runner-up and various special awards at a different global pageant last year. “It’s a great privilege to represent the Philippines again, and I hope to do it with honor and pride.”

Kirk Bondad 

Mister Pilipinas International 2025

Kirk isn’t a stranger to VMAN Southeast Asia, nor is he a new face in pageantry—the Filipino-German model and fitness coach is representing the Philippines for the second time internationally. 

He approaches pageants with the same discipline as athletics. “If your life is already demanding enough, and you have the resiliency and mental toughness to learn and grow, then that’s the best preparation you can have,” he says. 

“How you see me on that stage is the accumulation of how I’ve lived my life. You’re just seeing the result,” Kirk adds. Behind the 6-foot-4 frame is a stringent lifestyle: he prefers protein-filled meals (no snacks, he says), and he pushes hard during training while making it enjoyable. 

But rest and self-care are just as important. “With how intense my life is, I need to pull back and destress. Sleep hygiene is essential, as well as proper nutrition and a good skincare routine.”

Kirk believes that pageantry is inherently about beauty, but it’s also an opportunity for candidates to go above and beyond that. “It’s up to you to set the standard on how you want to represent yourself, your brand, or advocacy. If you want to just represent beauty, that’s fine. But I have other plans, so please follow me around to see that.” 

Raven Lansangan

Mister Pilipinas Manhunt International 2025

“Pageants aren’t all about popularity or fame. It’s also our responsibility as candidates to use the platform for our respective advocacies,” shares model and flight attendant Raven. 

Raven was only eighteen years old in 2017 when he first represented the Philippines in an international pageant. Eight years after, he’s back to compete on the global stage, carrying the grace of a veteran even at his young age. 

As such, his routines are already tried and tested: waking up on time, staying hydrated and eating healthy food, hitting the gym, reading books, and attending Q&A sessions. He never misses his appointments with his skin clinics. 

This time around, Raven wants to show the world how loving and family-oriented Filipinos are—just like him. “I joined pageants to help my family. The opportunities that open after competitions, I always dedicate those to them.”

Michael Angelo ‘Mayko’ Toledo 

Mister Pilipinas Man of the Year 2025

“I joined pageants to get out of my comfort zone,” shares Mayko. The model, who hails from the island province of Cebu, flew all the way to Manila to shoot his shot at Mister Pilipinas Worldwide. “Not everyone is given the privilege to represent the country, so I hope to do so with excellence and cultural pride,” he adds.

While he agrees that pageants are primarily a beauty platform, he sees it as a way to showcase our authentic selves. “Pageants allow me to connect with many people and different backgrounds, and for me, that’s one of the most beautiful things about them.”

For Mayko, embracing fitness as a lifestyle is a prerequisite to pageantry. But more importantly, one needs to be a believer in affirmations. “I always positively affirm myself every day. If you believe that you’re the best at what you do, confidence will always follow.”

As such, he is training twice as hard for his upcoming pageant, manifesting that he will be the best representative that he can be for the Philippines. 

Photography Jharwin Castañeda

Chief of Editorial Content Patrick Ty

Art direction Mike Miguel

Fashion Rex Atienza and Corven Uy

Words Angelo Dionora

Grooming and hair Nix Institute of Beauty

Photography assistants Aljon Celis and Joshua Navato

Special thanks Charles Jhancy Peregrina and Elle Hollman (Empire Philippines)