Fresh from his victory in Thailand, newly crowned Mister International 2025 Kirk Bondad returned to Manila last night, brimming with gratitude for his family and everyone who supported his pageant journey in Bangkok.

The Filipino-German model, who won the country’s second Mister International crown, admitted he is still catching up to the whirlwind that began when his name was called on finals night. "Honestly, everything feels like a fever dream,’ he confessed. ‘The feeling right now is like when you’re walking in the park and suddenly a fresh breeze hits you. I’m still catching up to it, but I have nothing but love in my heart."

Among the first questions asked of the newly crowned king at the victory media conference was about Ricky Martin. This was after pageant fans online noticed that the Latin music icon follows Kirk on Instagram.

Kirk smiled at the mention of the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” star. ‘Ricky Martin started following me a little bit over a year ago and we chatted a little bit,’ he revealed. "It’s only now that people are noticing, but yes, I just followed him back. He’s super into fitness, so who knows? Maybe one day we’ll have a workout together. It’s funny, it's definitely not something I expected to go viral from this competition."

Kirk admitted the highlight of his Mister International journey was far more personal. Seeing his parents in the audience when he won, he said, mattered more than the crown.

‘Leading up to the competition, I kept visualising everything, but it wasn’t me holding the trophy. It was me looking for my parents in the crowd,’ he shared. "My mom works a 9-to-5, my dad is in the Air Force, and they don’t live in the same country as me. I barely get to see them. So when I saw them there, I knew that was destiny. That was the biggest win of the night for me.:"

Another hot topic was Kirk’s friendship with Mister International Korea Seung Ho Choi, with pageant fans dubbing their chemistry perfect for a potential Boys’ Love (BL) series. Kirk replied, "We will figure out the details later," but he admitted the bond was real.

"We’re gym bros. We kept bumping into each other at the gym, so it was natural for us to spend more time together. Then my roommate Oliver (Mr. Indonesia) made this 'F4' group with me, Mr. Korea, and Mr. Thailand, and suddenly it went viral too," he said. "I’m actually pushing for Bench to bring Seung Ho here to shoot with me. The demand is there, and we’d love to give the fans what they want."

Kirk's victory was also celebrated by his fellow kings from Mister Pilipinas Worldwide. Among those who gave their congratulatory messages were Mister International 2014 Neil Perez, Mister Supranational 2025 Kenneth Cabungcal, Manhunt Supermodel 2025 Renz Lansangan, Man of the Year Philippines 2025 Maiko Toledo, Mister Cosmopolitan 2025 1st runner-up Kenneth Marcelino, and Mister Pilipinas Eco International 2025 Kit Cortez.

The victory media conference at Holiday Inn Express in Newport City was also attended by EmpirePH Holdings President & CEO Jonas Gaffud and EmpirePH Head of Digital and Creatives Paolo Arevalo, among other guests.

Asked what the victory means to him, Kirk reflected on the years of preparation that led to this point. "You know this day will come, you prep, you train, but you don’t feel the pressure until the crown is on your head,’ he explained. ‘I realised in my hotel room, after everything was done and I was munching on snacks, how overwhelming it really was. But it’s also fulfilling."

For aspiring male pageant hopefuls, his advice is clear: confidence comes from competence. ‘You need to believe in yourself, but you also have to put in the work. I had mentors, designers, and creative people around me. Repetition and training reinforced my conviction even further. That’s where real confidence is built.’

The new Mister International 2025, who revealed he is already planning to launch three businesses, said he is trying to stay grounded amid the frenzy. ‘Right now there’s a lot of noise. I need to stay cool and compose myself so I move in the right direction," he said.

His mornings, he shared, start with a simple Filipino ritual. "I start my day, every single day, with a very rich, thick tablea chocolate. I bought so many chocolate tableas all over the Philippines, and it's like a combination of, like, five different tableas, and this is my way of starting my morning. I even bought more at the international airport. I will go to my TV, open YouTube, and switch on some nature sounds and sit there with my phone in peace, drinking my chocolate, and do nothing for an hour."

As for his heart? ‘My heart is good. My heart is at peace. And my heart absolutely loves myself,’ he declared.

With his victory, Kirk Bondad has placed the Philippines on the global male pageant map. From Ricky Martin’s Instagram follow to his parents’ much-valued presence, from BL buzz to future business ventures and brand deals, it is clear his Mister International reign is only just beginning.