Mister Global 2019 National Costumes
September 26, 2019 11:22 PM Subscribe
Yesterday, South Korea's Kim Jong-woo was crowned the most "inspiring gentleman" at Mister Global 2019. Imgur Link to contestant national costumes.
Mister Global (wiki link) is an annual male beauty pageant held in Thailand.
This is too much in the best way!
Looking at other men's pageants through that Wikipedia link, they seem to be stuck in the tuxedo, the Western suit. This pageant is thankfully not!
posted by panhopticon at 11:33 PM on September 26, 2019
Looking at other men's pageants through that Wikipedia link, they seem to be stuck in the tuxedo, the Western suit. This pageant is thankfully not!
posted by panhopticon at 11:33 PM on September 26, 2019
Delightful! A lot of these are a good halfway towards the bonkers Miss Universe costumes -- good on you Mr. Nepal for going to the extent of constructing the portable backdrop; kudos to Mr. Cuba for having the guts to straight jam a set of maracas in his hat, since the rest of the ensemble is so subtle.
...And then Mr. USA was issued a $20 gift card to Party City on the way to the contest. Like Superman is a great idea; folkloric warrior is a common theme here. And they have a fellow who could plausibly fill out a well-tailored super suit (maybe he's built more like Spidey than Supes). But if a dude has heat vision, surely he can iron his own suit, and maybe get one where the middle seam is straight.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:45 PM on September 26, 2019 [11 favorites]
...And then Mr. USA was issued a $20 gift card to Party City on the way to the contest. Like Superman is a great idea; folkloric warrior is a common theme here. And they have a fellow who could plausibly fill out a well-tailored super suit (maybe he's built more like Spidey than Supes). But if a dude has heat vision, surely he can iron his own suit, and maybe get one where the middle seam is straight.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:45 PM on September 26, 2019 [11 favorites]
lololol xdvesper, this definitely made the rounds in Malaysia/Singapore internet, and everyone comments on Mister USA....
posted by cendawanita at 1:59 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by cendawanita at 1:59 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
well how could you not? you're scrolling through a long page of all this exquisitely crafted fabulousness, and then right at the end is ol' USA in a janky-ass superman suit
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:54 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:54 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Aw man. I love this, but I cannot help but think that given a clear locus in SE Asia it's as coy as trad het female beauty contests because any kind of open gay sexuality on display in those part of the world can get you in serious, serious trouble.
And yet there is something great about it.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 2:57 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
And yet there is something great about it.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 2:57 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Mr USA still made more effort than Mr Switzerland, who appears to be wearing just a Swiss flag cape. It does have a hood.
posted by jb at 3:06 AM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by jb at 3:06 AM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
This may be the superhero team 2019 needs.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:10 AM on September 27, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:10 AM on September 27, 2019 [4 favorites]
Also, THERE IS SWIMWEAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLTpra2E70
I was trying to figure out why they all walk so weirdly stiffly and then I realised how hard it is to walk and flex your abs and hold your stomach in at the same time.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:11 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLTpra2E70
I was trying to figure out why they all walk so weirdly stiffly and then I realised how hard it is to walk and flex your abs and hold your stomach in at the same time.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:11 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
Mr. Poland is having the last laugh.
posted by waving at 5:07 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by waving at 5:07 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
THE GIRLS* ARE SERVING FACE ON TONOIGHT!!!!!!!!! What is this marvelous thing I had no knowledge of? I'm....kind of okay with the focus on trad het masculinity because pageants/balls/weekly bear offs/other fabulous spaces for competitive non-traditional masculine spectacle and ostentation are numerous? (Though, yes, depending upon location and may not be safe and sometimes must be very underground and all other disclaimers.) This is just really great though. Agreed all around on the unfortunate Party City realness of the USA competitor, which also somehow seems appropriate for an American dude so maybe all things considered he knocked it out of the park.
*you know, men
posted by youarenothere at 5:14 AM on September 27, 2019
*you know, men
posted by youarenothere at 5:14 AM on September 27, 2019
Best actual clothes: Spain, India. "Phoned it In" special award for the team that didn't kno there was a national costume event until the morning of: Taiwan. Very creative use of the hotel tablecloth!
posted by Meatbomb at 5:19 AM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 5:19 AM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oh and Sweden wins some kind of prize for not pretending to not be gay.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:23 AM on September 27, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 5:23 AM on September 27, 2019 [4 favorites]
Chile is a little upset, possibly about the scratchiness of twigs
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 5:41 AM on September 27, 2019
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 5:41 AM on September 27, 2019
Did they not see Panama or Guam?? I mean, flutes are cool but check the wingspan. Also, Mexico deserves a prize for most likely to slaughter and/or sacrifice you to Quetzalcoatl.
posted by rodlymight at 6:06 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rodlymight at 6:06 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
If there's any justice in this world, Superman (assuming he likes girls) needs to set up a date with the Canadian Miss Universe contestant who showed up in a Sexy Mountie costume from Canadian Tire a few years ago*. Together, they can make a real-world Dudley Do-Right.
*This is 100% real and not a joke. On google, 2013.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:19 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
*This is 100% real and not a joke. On google, 2013.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:19 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also, THERE IS SWIMWEAR
I want to know what Mr Albania stuffed in his trunks to get that structured, perfectly-pyramidal crotch bulge.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:26 AM on September 27, 2019
I want to know what Mr Albania stuffed in his trunks to get that structured, perfectly-pyramidal crotch bulge.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:26 AM on September 27, 2019
I think it's pretty cool that a Vietnamese guy is Mr. Czech Republic.
posted by notsnot at 7:08 AM on September 27, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by notsnot at 7:08 AM on September 27, 2019 [8 favorites]
Is this gender equality or just cosplay going mainstream?
posted by GuyZero at 8:03 AM on September 27, 2019
posted by GuyZero at 8:03 AM on September 27, 2019
it's pretty cool that a Vietnamese guy is Mr. Czech Republic
Mr South Africa, on the other hand... wtf
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:21 AM on September 27, 2019 [4 favorites]
Mr South Africa, on the other hand... wtf
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:21 AM on September 27, 2019 [4 favorites]
Spain's outfit is so subtle, but mr Japan gets my vote. dat hair, dat parasol
posted by Mrs Potato at 8:43 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Mrs Potato at 8:43 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
putting mr Sri Lanka first was a set up....he's by far the best looking of the bunch...
these sorts of things are fascinating though. It's interesting to see different cultural standards of beauty and of course the outfits are amazing. except US, that is just embarrassing...
posted by supermedusa at 9:27 AM on September 27, 2019
these sorts of things are fascinating though. It's interesting to see different cultural standards of beauty and of course the outfits are amazing. except US, that is just embarrassing...
posted by supermedusa at 9:27 AM on September 27, 2019
i mean the execution might not be to everyone's liking, but i wonder if there's a less disparaging way to discuss an outfit distinctly inspired by the indigenous peoples of Taiwan?
Yup. We could make fun of Mr. Helvetica instead for his raid on the drapes.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:39 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
Yup. We could make fun of Mr. Helvetica instead for his raid on the drapes.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:39 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
I find many of these gentlemen inspiring!
posted by ChuraChura at 1:29 PM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 1:29 PM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
Well, I enjoyed looking at those. Nowhere near as batshit as some of the costumes from Miss Universe, but it was nice to see some versions of actual national costumes, especially Messrs Japan, South Korea, China, Spain and Poland. The last two did let the side down rather badly though - I envisage a scene in the dressing-room where Mr Switzerland refused to wear the lederhosen he was given, and wrapped himself in the flag out of pique, and couldn't Mr USA have just worn a cowboy outfit? Oh, and having just watched Midsommar, I found Mr Sweden rather, er, unsettling.
posted by Fuchsoid at 6:11 PM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Fuchsoid at 6:11 PM on September 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
This is great!... except for the inspiring gentleman from the United States. There are so many iconic, quintessentially American forms of dress. Do better next year!
posted by crosley at 8:26 PM on September 27, 2019
posted by crosley at 8:26 PM on September 27, 2019
uhhh I thought this was going to be silly, but it's actually just good
posted by grandiloquiet at 12:20 PM on September 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by grandiloquiet at 12:20 PM on September 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
For my money, Indonesia and Korea have most pleasing facial structures for me.
Czech Republic, though, looks like the kindest and actually nice Mr. Congeniality winner. With Myanmar probably the funny jokester runner up.
A little strange that there are so many weapons - so the flute guy stands out.
But martial flutes are also a thing (I have a shakuhachi - albeit Japanese - inherited from my dad and it's a very effective light mace; much better than a baseball bat in close quarters like residential hallways).
As for Mr. USA - I'm just glad they didn't appropriate First Nations historical fashion.
A lot of the other costumes went for traditional motifs - I guess cowboys are sufficiently "American" (what about vaqueros?) but USA specific (not just North American) could be zoot suits? Not very conducive starting material to make a "naughty Halloween costume" out of though.
The only other USA specific motifs I can think of for men would be the various flavours of Puritanism. Village People notwithstanding. Or sports (basketball, baseball, American football). I guess a Mad Max-ey football pads costume could work.
Naughty Elvis?
(it super duper weird that, for certain mainstream measures of physique - muscle mass/ localized hypertrophy/ body fat - mine is superior to more than a few of these participants)
posted by porpoise at 4:23 PM on September 28, 2019
Czech Republic, though, looks like the kindest and actually nice Mr. Congeniality winner. With Myanmar probably the funny jokester runner up.
A little strange that there are so many weapons - so the flute guy stands out.
But martial flutes are also a thing (I have a shakuhachi - albeit Japanese - inherited from my dad and it's a very effective light mace; much better than a baseball bat in close quarters like residential hallways).
As for Mr. USA - I'm just glad they didn't appropriate First Nations historical fashion.
A lot of the other costumes went for traditional motifs - I guess cowboys are sufficiently "American" (what about vaqueros?) but USA specific (not just North American) could be zoot suits? Not very conducive starting material to make a "naughty Halloween costume" out of though.
The only other USA specific motifs I can think of for men would be the various flavours of Puritanism. Village People notwithstanding. Or sports (basketball, baseball, American football). I guess a Mad Max-ey football pads costume could work.
Naughty Elvis?
(it super duper weird that, for certain mainstream measures of physique - muscle mass/ localized hypertrophy/ body fat - mine is superior to more than a few of these participants)
posted by porpoise at 4:23 PM on September 28, 2019
This is the most Thai pageant ever. Dressing up in traditional costume is...not uncommon there (I’ve been dragged into it at a traditional village in the hills of Chiang Mai and a huge mall in Bangkok and maybe a few other places I’ve successfully blocked out of my memory). I think of it—from the outside observing—as due to a mix of historically beautiful textiles, Ayutthaya’s gold jewelry and the gold of the temples, a little influence from the traditional dances, and a strong national awareness of the proud history of the country.
In Thailand, I would say that this type of costume wearing requires some flair (hello Sri Lanka), good posing (look at China, Haiti, and Laos), an understanding of the balance of sexual and modest that is pretty culturally-specific (look at Thailand again and see how he doesn’t actually have that much skin on display and it’s mainly his pecs and upper arms), and preferably some gold (mainly the SE Asian countries and the Latin Amercian countries).
So it’s a little hard to explain but Mr USA really missed it. On basically every point possible.
posted by librarylis at 6:35 PM on September 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
In Thailand, I would say that this type of costume wearing requires some flair (hello Sri Lanka), good posing (look at China, Haiti, and Laos), an understanding of the balance of sexual and modest that is pretty culturally-specific (look at Thailand again and see how he doesn’t actually have that much skin on display and it’s mainly his pecs and upper arms), and preferably some gold (mainly the SE Asian countries and the Latin Amercian countries).
So it’s a little hard to explain but Mr USA really missed it. On basically every point possible.
posted by librarylis at 6:35 PM on September 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
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** except perhaps for Mister USA...
posted by xdvesper at 11:29 PM on September 26, 2019 [8 favorites]