Part-Kiwi model from Albay to represent the Philippines at Mister World

The Miss World Organization (MWO) still has not announced when or where the next Mister World competition will be held, but the Philippines has already chosen who will represent the country—Aaron Beau Davis.

The part-Kiwi model bested more than a dozen other aspirants at the 2026 Mr. World Philippines final competition held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Newport World Resorts in Pasay City on Sunday evening, Aug. 2.

Davis is not new to pageantry, having competed at the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide competition in 2024 where he represented the Filipino community of New Zealand. He finished in the Top 10.

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He was into bodybuilding back in Palmerston North before getting into basketball, which paved the way for his journey to his mother’s homeland. In Manila, he enrolled at the Far Eastern University to join the varsity team for the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines).

During the final round of the competition, Davis drew the name of reigning Miss World Philippines Asia Rose Simpson as the member of the judging panel to deliver the question.

She asked, “AI-generated fake video and images can make people appear to say or do things that are not real. How should technology companies, governments, and the public work together to protect elections from false information?”

Davis responded, “AI is kinda like a double-edged sword here. Here in this country [there are] positives with AI. It can improve efficiency [and] effectiveness altogether. However, there [are] negatives. And I feel like us as people here in this industry, as models, as actors have felt this first hand. We have been replaced in this industry. And it’s time to speak up and stand for ourselves. Because in the end, AI cannot replace humans. Because humans have hearts.”

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Aside from the new Mr. World Philippines titleholder, seven more winners were proclaimed from among the Top 10 finalists, including Mister Multimedia fast-track winner Logan Culp from the Filipino community of Canada who received the Mister Universe Philippines title.

Best in Talent Paris Cabuco from Baguio will compete at Mister Globe, Mister Charity Wendell Pamfilo from Nueva Ecija will be sent to Mister Model International, while Top Model winner Alexei Cruz from Manila will join Masters of the World.

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Alex Herberich from Pangasinan will represent the country at Mister Interglobal, pageant veteran and double winner of Empowered Man with Purpose and Head-to-Head Challenge Jesus Guinto of Bulacan will compete at Mister Glamor Look, while Pampanga’s Christan Manalo will be sent to Mister Tourism.

Settling for the first runner-up spot was crowd favorite Sean Kyle Ortega from Quezon City, a pageant rookie who was in the finals of the Head to Head, Beauty with a Purpose, Dances of the Philippines, and Top Model competitions. He also received the Mr. K-Magic Beauty and Mr. Monarch Montage awards.

Pageant veteran and flight attendant Christian Villarin from Iloilo City, winner of the Sports Challenge, rounded up the winners’ circle as second runner-up. /edv