Manhunt International

During the pageant final, several other awards also given aside from the ultimate title of Manhunt International. These awards are Best in National Costume, Mister Photogenic, Mister Friendship, and Mister Popularity (voted by people via internet).

HISTORY

The MANHUNT CONTEST started off in 1987, when Alex Liu, pageant director of Metromedia Singapore, decided to stage the first male model contest in Singapore. There were numerous pageants for women and nothing for the men. So Liu carefully planned and engineered his first Manhunt contest in Singapore and it became an overnight success.

Manhunt became International in 1993. It was first held in Australia's Gold Coast in 1993, when Germany's Thomas Sasse took the first Manhunt International title from 25 contestants. In 1994, the pageant remained in Australia's Gold Coast when Nikos Papadakis of Greece won. The Manhunt International Event is a joint partnership with our Australian partner, Procon Leisure International Pty Ltd, headed by Mr. Rosko Dickinson.

The pageant saw one of its most successful years in November 1995 when 35 of the world's most hunted males came to Sentosa Island, Singapore to compete for the prestigious title. South Africa's Albe Geldenhuys won that year. And India's Dino Morea came a close first runner up. The Manhunt International 1995 world final was televised on television in Singapore and 38 countries with an estimated 420 million viewers worldwide.

Manhunt International 1996 World Final was to be held in Singapore between 20th December 1996 to 1st January 1997 as a New Year's Special. However, Singapore had its General Elections in that same period. The event was postponed to May 1997 so that the World Final's publicity would not be overshadowed by the Singapore elections.

The Manhunt International 1997 was held in Singapore with 38 countries participating. The World Final was held on the 23rd May 1997. The winner was Jason Erceg from New Zealand while the first runner up was Sandro Finnochio from Venezuela who later became Mr. World in 1998. The event was televised on the 24th May 1997 to more than 50 countries to 500 million viewers worldwide.

In 1999, the World Final left the shores of Singapore and Australia to Manila, Philippines in May. Here, 43 countries competed at the PICC where Ernesto Calzadilla from Venezuela became the first Latin American to win the Manhunt International title and India's John Abraham took second place. This is the second time India has come close to winning the crown.

In 2000, the contest returned to Singapore and at the World Final in September 2000, Brett Wilson from Australia won the contest at the Neptune Theatre Restaurant.

The 2001 Manhunt International contest was held on the 12th November at the Beijing Poly Theatre in China and was viewed by an audience of 2,600 guests and 500 International and local press. The World Final will be televised to 500 million people in China alone. India's Rajeev Singh won the Manhunt International 2001 title and he also Best National Costume Award and Sharmoon Best in Evening Suit Award. Rajeev is the first Asian to win the Manhunt International title.

On the 14th December 2002, in Shanghai, China, Fabrice Bertrand Wattez from France beat 46 other countries to become Manhunt International 2002/03. The world final was held at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Shanghai TV broadcasted the event, to 24 TV broadcasting stations and to over 500 million viewers.

The Manhunt International 2003 contest was to have been held in Shanghai, China but due to the outbreak of SARS, the event was cancelled. In the year 2004, there was a serious outbreak of Avian Bird Flu, so the organizer decided to put off the 2004 world finals in view of the safety of the contestants.

On 8th September 2005, Busan, South Korea hosted the Manhunt International 2005 World Final and it was held as one of the pre-events of the APEC Summit (Asia Pacific Economic Conference) which Busan was also hosting. Tolgahan Sayisman from Turkey won the pageant.

The city of Jinjiang, Fujian Province, China hosted the Manhunt International 2006 World Final
on 19th April 2006. Jaime Augusto Mayol from USA East (there were 2 contestants from USA) won the pageant.

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EXTERNAL LINKS

Official Website

Pageantopolis' Manhunt International page

Information About

Manhunt International