Eye candy. Stud muffin. The shirtless guy.
Filipino-Persian model Sam Ajdani is all these, as seen in his body of work for the past four years, from catwalk to billboards to the pages of a magazine. But there’s more to this 26-year-old than meets the eye, making him the rightful representative of the Philippines to the Mister World 2016 competition, which will take place at Southport, United Kingdom, on July 19.
Mister World is dubbed the search for “the world’s most desirable man.” It is organized by the same organization behind Miss World, and is a competition based on a man’s holistic appeal instead of just his looks. It runs for two to three weeks, and is comprised of five parts: Fashion and Style, Extreme Challenge, Multi-media Award, Sports Challenge, and Talent Competition.
One winner from each challenge will be selected, and these five winners will automatically enter the Top 10. Five more contestants will qualify for the Top 10 based on their over-all performance, disposition, and interviews with the judges. From this fine crop of 10 men, one Mister World will be declared. As with Miss World, the finalists need to answer one question:
Why do they want to win Mister World, and what would it mean to them?
The Philippines has sent two representatives in the past: celebrity and athlete Andrew Wolff (Mister World 2012 First Runner-Up), and military man and model John Spainhour (2014). The competition is held every two years. The current title holder is Nicklas Pedersen from Denmark.
I have had the chance to work with Sam, and it was through that experience that I realized the guy has depth and is what many would call an old soul. While he can get along with everyone he works with, Sam is reserved but is kind. Behind the face of a model is a mind that knows how to do things consciously and with intention. While others his age would be whimsical and flighty, Sam is mindful and calm.
We sat down with Sam for a quick interview at Lusso, Greenbelt 5. He arrived despite not having had any food for the day (he came from a workshop), and thoughtfully answered all of our questions.
On the phrase ‘just a model’
“I have been meeting so many models in the past four years, from different countries. Many of them are well educated, and if they want to do something else, they could. But they choose modeling because they enjoy it; they love doing it. I don’t think ‘just a model’ is the right way of putting it when pertaining to models.”
On Fitness Boys PH
“Aside from modeling, I’m into fitness. I just made my first video (ab workout) posted on my Facebook timeline. Business is something I am also interested to get into. My friends and I sit down once a week and see what kind of opportunities we have, so we can hopefully choose what’s best for us. We’d love to have a gym soon!”
On being a geek
“I’m into computers. I’m currently working on my site, but I think it will take a while because I need to do all my research for it to be a very good site. I understand the hardware much better than the programming side. I read books, mostly self-help books. I also read self-help blogs, but much prefer the physical book.”
On being Mister World Philippines
“I never thought of it. I never even dreamed of it. It wasn’t part of the plan but it happened. My agent encouraged me, and I thought about it overnight. Something told me to just do it, just go. I usually listen to my feelings when it comes to these things. I know I don’t like competitions much, but let’s see what happens.”
On hopefully winning the title
“After a person wins a title or a crown, the expectations get higher. People expect you to do great. I don’t feel pressured right now, honestly. I have many people who support me, which I am thankful for. They give me positive energy.
“I just talked to Andrew Wolff a few days ago. He was very nice. He is one of the people who encouraged me to go for this. (John) Spainhour always tells me about his experiences in Mister World. They both have a positive impact on me.”
On the support of his fans and followers
“I’m very grateful for your support, and I hope that you continue supporting me throughout this journey. I hope that I can deliver. I will do my best. I will be my best. Let’s see what happens.”
Fast facts on Sam Ajdani
• He started modeling only four years ago
• He graduated with a degree in Information Technology
• He took his Masters in Information Management and just needs to finish his thesis
• His mother is a Filipina from Bacolod. His parents are based in Iran
• He has an older sister who is now based in Australia, and a younger brother, Tohid, who is with him here in Manila
Our Mister World Philippines 2016 is on Facebook (Sam Ajdani), Instagram (@samajdani), and Twitter (@samajdani8).
Follow me at @kaimagsanoc on IG and Twitter for more updates
