”I hope I made the Philippines proud. This crown is not just mine, it’s ours.” – Kirk Bondad, 2025
Tall, dark, and handsome clearly is not enough to cover. Kirk Bondad, our very own Mister International 2025 winner, is not just beauty and brawn, but also an embodiment of a brilliant mind with a charming poise. All the traits that landed him the crown for Mr. International 2025 on Thursday, September 25, at the MCC Hall at The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Thailand.
Among 40 buff and handsome aspiring candidates, the 28 year-old Bondad won against Mister Lebanon Saadedine Hneineh who was named 1st runner-up, while Mister Korea Seung-ho Choi is 2nd runner-up.
However, among these many feats, there are more than meets the eye for the charming Kirk Bondad. Here are some things you might not know about Mr. International 2025:
Igorot-German Roots
Kirk was born to a German father and a Filipino mother and was raised in Germany. He moved to the Philippines to pursue a career in modeling after his elder brother Clint established a life in their mother’s native country.
He was the younger brother of Clint Bondad—model, actor, and Former Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s ex boyfriend—who was also making a name in the entertainment industry. Bondad is openly proud of his roots, even paying tribute to his lineage in his competitions.
Back in 2024, he represented his Igorot roots in his national costume for Mister World 2024. Designed and created by Cordilleran designer Andrew Visaya Jr., Bondad showcased his lineage wearing a red bahag with a feathered headdress, a figure of the rice god Bulul, and holding weapons crafted from water buffalo materials.
He also represented Baguio in Mister Pilipinas 2025, earning the spot as the Mister Pilipinas International Ambassador.
No Stranger to Pageantry
Before his win, Kirk competed in Mister World. He was given the title in 2022, but the pageant was postponed to 2024. He finished in the Top 20.
Also in the same year, Kirk Bondad was hailed as the grand winner of the Century Tuna Superbods fitness competition, taking home a ₱500,000 cash prize. The annual contest challenges participants to undergo physical and mental transformation, all while advocating for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
Interestingly, Kirk had previously joined the 2020 edition but was disqualified—an experience he later described in an Instagram post as “one of the best things that happened to me.”
Reflecting on that journey, he shared:
“Everything happens for a reason, no matter how bad it might feel. Maybe in that moment of pain it’s impossible to reason with a loss, but eventually, the moment of realization will come, and just like that, everything will make sense.”
Mister International 2025
This year, he finally won the Mr. International crown, a long-awaited feat since our last win in 2014 with police officer Neil Perez.
Bondad landed a Top 5 placement in the Best National Costume category this year, wearing the Perlas Celestia—a dazzling gold outfit crowned with a matching scepter and headdress. The design pays homage to the Philippines as the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
Perlas Celestia was designed by Patrick Isorena, a Filipino fashion designer who has long been designing for pageant contestants.
Further, he successfully secured his spot with his thought-provoking answers during Q&A. Mister International President and Judge Pradit Pradinunt asked him the question:
“Why is critical thinking important for the survival of democracy in an era of fake news and misinformation?”
Bondad then replied, “I think that this topic is a very timely matter because social media is acting as a double-edged sword; it can divide, but it can also unite. One thing that is very prevalent now, and that you can see everywhere, is that fake news is spreading. I think critical thinking gives us the ability to see what truly matters because at the end of the day, every step counts. And if we can work together as humanity, we can progress in this world, and we can move forward with peace and progress.”
His answer for the top 3 is more concise in which he was asked: “If you win Mister International and are invited to speak at the United Nations, what one social or political issue would you choose to highlight and why?”
In reply, Bondad said, “If I were given the honor, I would focus on the children. We need to protect them. I would give them a chance, provide more protection, and cultivate education because today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders. Ultimately, I believe that if we collectively make the right decisions, even small steps can have a big impact internationally.”
