My Experience at Mr. Panama 2024: Not Everything That Glitters Is Gold
Today, I want to share with you my journey through my latest project. I had high hopes for this, believing it was an excellent opportunity to revisit a goal I’d had in mind for a long time: Mr. Panama 2024.
First of all, male pageants in our country have existed for a long time—over a decade, in fact—though they aren’t very popular and often lack significant sponsorship.
Like any model, I was looking for the exposure I thought these projects provided, and of course, I wanted the experience. It was never about being considered “the most handsome”… I mean, what for? As a teenager, I used to watch these contests and tell myself I’d participate one day. But as I learned, not everything is as it seems.
The Beginning
In October 2024, when I saw the castings were being held, I decided to join. It wasn’t my first time in a pageant. Even though my previous experience left a bad taste in my mouth (it was a contest with zero prizes!), I decided to give it another shot. This specific organization seemed to be more “professional and organized.”
The Contestants
At the start, there were 15 of us, half of whom were Venezuelan. Yes, you read that right—a contest called “Mr. Panama,” and half the contestants were foreigners. I decided to stay because I really wanted to participate. I told myself, “Looking at the lineup, one of us Panamanians is bound to win.” How wrong I was!
The Presentations
The first event was in December 2024. By then, we were down to 13 candidates; two had already vanished. This event included photo shoots, individual introductions, and the sashing ceremony. I represented Colón.
The second presentation was in February 2025. In my opinion, this event was a total miss. It was even emptier than the first, and honestly, the clothes we modeled were nothing special. I felt this presentation was unnecessary. But guess what? A winner was chosen there to go directly to the finals—and it was a Venezuelan guy. I was in shock! I started feeling uncomfortable because it just didn’t sit right with me. A guy with braces!
Duration of the Contest
By the second presentation, we were four months in. The contest finally ended in April, making it a six-month ordeal. It was incredibly long! By that point, I was bored and had lost the will to continue. I just wanted out.
The Journey
Throughout the contest, there were only workshops, rehearsals, and photo shoots. No prizes, no trips… tell me, did it make any sense to continue?
I decided to drop out of the competition. My reasons?
- Photo Shoots: During my time there, we did six shoots. If I was fully satisfied with three of them, that’s being generous. The photos weren’t pageant-quality and didn’t project anything at all.
Do you think this is an appropriate photo/outfit for a competition like this?
The Participants: Too many foreigners, and it wasn’t even like they were the most attractive. I have nothing against anyone personally, but it’s the truth. Even on social media, people were commenting on their dissatisfaction with so many foreigners in a local contest. What bothered me most was that opportunities in this industry are scarce, and the little there is goes to people without a strong link to the country.
Outfits: Can you believe there were unmasculine outfits in a male pageant? That was another reason I felt dissatisfied.
Prizes: Can you believe this was a competition and there weren’t even any prizes?
Weeks later I found out that if someone won, they had to pay for their own travel, and the organization only helped with the wardrobe. This blew my mind. I told myself, “I’m out of here.” The whole thing was pathetic. I felt like I wasted my time and money. It was just an experience designed to sell tickets. I didn’t even gain any followers on social media.
I do not recommend participating in these types of contests.
Thank you all for reading. It’s been a pleasure sharing my experience with you.
No responses yet