The Philippines has reached its highest placement yet at the Mister Cosmopolitan pageant, with Kenneth Marcelino claiming the first runner-up title at the competition’s grand finals on Sunday, September 7, in Bangkok, Thailand.
A professional makeup artist from Laguna and a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Marcelino earned the honor during the coronation night held at Siam Fantasy, Asiatique Riverfront. His feat surpassed the country’s previous best placement of second runner-up by Ivan Ignacio in the pageant’s inaugural edition in 2023. Last year’s delegate, Emerson Gomez, reached the semifinals. He also won Best in National Costume during the preliminaries on September 5, dazzling the audience in his “Diwata” ensemble inspired by the fantasy series Encanadia Chronicles: Sang’gre.
In the end, Taiwan’s Shawn Lin Yu Hsiang emerged as Mister Cosmopolitan 2025, succeeding Singapore’s Daryl Ng. Lin also topped the online voting with 38.51% of total votes among 18 contestants. Marcelino settled for second place, followed by Sandile Christo Gama of South Africa as second runner-up, Dinh Sy Tu of Vietnam as third runner-up, and Eddie Joblon of France as fourth runner-up.
Marcelino’s stellar performance not only elevates the Philippines’ standing in the international male pageant scene but also highlights his role as an inspiring figure for representation and inclusivity.
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