On July 28th, HOT Hua Hin Co. Ltd., the parent company of this magazine, presented their first Mr. National Thailand pageant which was held in the grand ballroom of the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok.
Close to 400 people joined in this inaugural event including local, national and international media. Twenty men competed for six titles; Mister Continental Tourism Thailand 2016, Mister United Continents Thailand 2017, Mister National Thailand 2016, Mister Amity International Thailand 2016, Mister Tourism World Thailand 2016 and Mister Southeast Asian Thailand 2016.
From the evening competition, six winners were picked to represent Thailand in the six aforementioned international male pageants that will be held in Malaysia, the Philippine’s and Myanmar in 2016 and 2017. Awards were also given at the competition for the most photogenic and congenial.
The honorary chairwoman of the event was well known Thai celebrity, socialite and businesswoman Khun Sumanee Guna Kasem who spoke to the audience prior to the start of the competition. Ten celebrity judges oversaw the competition which included socialite/businesswoman Khun Vachini Krairiksh Venvell, former Miss Thailand Universe, Ms. Chutima Durongthej, Chalomjit Chankate, former runner-up in the Miss Thailand World competition and Oneruk “K” Sittiwong, famous Thai shoe designer and the only Thai to win the Prestigious Jimmy Choo Award.
The competition actually started on Sunday July 24th when all 20 contestants boarded a bus in Bangkok and traveled to Khao Yai for several days’ jam packed with events. Contestants enjoyed photoshoots at different Khao Yao locations, cooking classes and fitness.
Returning to Bangkok on the 26th the men had two days of fittings and rehearsal prior to the Thursday night competition.
Similar in scope and style as the much more well-known female beauty contests, the Mr. National Thailand competition started with a runway parade where each candidate was introduced with all dressed in casual sportswear. The catcalls from the women in the audience went into a high fever pitch as the men next came out in their swimsuits, all designed by Franco, another sponsor for the evening.
One of the many highlights of the evening came when Mr. Wichaya “Tack” Wongsuriyan from the Voice Thailand came out next and performed for the capacity crowd, singing several songs as the men came out again, this time shirtless, wearing sport coats and slack or shorts.
One of the tenants of the pageant was that contestants must speak English well and present themselves with poise as representatives of Thailand to the various international pageants. This was put to the test when the judges and audience got to hear each contestant speak in the next segment introducing themselves and telling the the audience their thoughts on what representing the New Gen of the Future was all about, The New Gen of the Future being the motto of the event.
It was then time for the Judges to go to work and narrow the field from 20 to 10 Candidates. Once done, the 10 contestants were brought back on stage and each asked a different question that they had to immediately answer off the top of their head.
And with that it was time for the judges to go to work and decide who the winners would be.
And the winners were;
Mister Continental Tourism Thailand 2016
Mister Richard Ricardo Carter
- Mister United Continents Thailand 2017
Mister Rachata Hamphanon - Mister National Thailand 2016
● MNT 2016 POPULAR VOTE
Mister Arthit Mekarkard - Mister Amity International Thailand 2016
Mister Narapat Sakunsong - Mister Tourism World Thailand 2016
Mister Sylvester Alamdar - Mister Southeast Asian Thailand 2016
Mister Waranyoo Suwan - Mister National Thailand 2016 PHOTOGENIC
Mister Suphachok Taweechote
- MNT 2016 CONGENIALITY
Mister Suphachok Taweechote
Ms. Tanya Siri Vijitsomphong, Editor of this magazine oversees all pageant operations along with her team Carima Khakhao, & Thanyasa Thajinda. Ms Siri Vijitsomphong had this to say about the event, “The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do, and these guys did. I was really impressed and proud at how hard these guys worked over the course of the competition. By the end of it all we all felt like one big family.”
The official photographer for the event was Sunya Yamaka with the Bride and Groom Gallery.
The prime sponsor for the evening was Raudy Sa-i-mi of Raudy’s Flowers with Franco clothing the official clothes sponsor. Hotel Sponsors for the event included the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok, Plaza Athenee Bangkok, Sukhothai Bangkok, Marriott Hua Hin Resort, Sheraton Pranburi Villas, NovoTel Hua Hin/Cha Am, Amari Hua Hin Resort and the Hilton Hua Hin,
