‘Full Pinoy’ pageant king Jose Carlos Paras goes places after international win
Only a month has passed since model and online content creator Jose Carlos Paras became the first Filipino contender to win the Mister National Universe title, but he has already flown on several official trips.
The Kapampangan hunk represented Boracay Island at the eighth edition of the international male tilt held in Thailand, and the Visayan paradise has called him in to officially “adopt” him as its “son” after his victory.
From Boracay, Paras returned to Thailand earlier this month for a series of charity and welfare acivities, particularly events that support the sanctuaries of abandoned animals, a result of the Thai government’s crackdown on animal trafficking in the country.
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The Filipino hunk is currently in Vietnam as a special guest for the “Global Fashion Week All Stars” in Hanoi, which will run until Aug. 2. But before he embarked on his international tour, Paras met with several journalists and online content creators at the SM Light Residences in Mandaluyong City to share his experience in the competition.
His pageant came on the heels of a huge controversy in the Philippines that stemmed from Filipino-Guamanian pageant king Brandon Espiritu’s remarks about “halfies” (part-foreigners) as the Philippines’ sole hope in international pageants.
The comment was made on an already-deleted video clip that Espiritu himself posted online. The 2024 Mister Supranational second runner-up has been dabbling in online content creation aside from his other business interests in the country.
Paras said he did not mind Espiritu’s controversial take, and the controversy failed to dampen his quest to clinch an international pageant title for himself, and for the country.
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“I saw that my co-candidates were exemplary. For example, Mister Philippines has an amazing physique, and Mister Spain’s face is exceptional. But I viewed it as an opportunity for me to get encouraged to fight for Boracay Island. And I’m happy I won,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Two Filipino contenders took part in the global male tilt. Aside from Paras who represented Boracay Island, there was John Paolo Dela Cruz who carried the Philippines.
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Dela Cruz finished fourth overall and was conferred the Mister National Earth title. Spain’s Eduardo Hernandez, who many perceived was the biggest threat to Paras’ victory, finished second, and received the Mister National World crown.
“At first we were just strangers. Then we became ‘brothers.’ I’m super happy, and my experience at Mister National Universe was memorable,” Paras said as he shared about their bonding moments at the beach, playing games and going kayaking.
Aside from gaining new brothers from other parts of the world, Paras said the crown is something that is also worth cherishing from the pageant.
“It is important for me because it shows that I’m the winner, because it’s an honor and a responsibilitty to wear a crown. In my whole journey with the Mister National Universe Organization, I will do my very best, I will bring my all,” he said.
Paras noted how the Mister National Universe Organization’s philanthropic mission and vision perfectly aligns with his own. “I’m very happy to be with them,” he said. /ra