Kirk Bondad shares story behind his Mister International 2025 outfit

Kirk Bondad took to social media to share the story behind his Mister International 2025 outfit, which featured a symbolic gesture for the host country, Thailand.

On Instagram, pageant king shared snaps of himself wearing the custom set by Francis Libiran, as well as some sketches of the creation.

His winning suit featured Philippines’ and Thailand’s flags inside, which Kirk showed during his walk.

“When I turned and revealed the Thai flag, the reaction was so strong that I had to ground myself not to show it back. That gesture wasn’t about me, it was a small homage to the host country, a way of saying thank you through presence rather than words,” he said.

As someone who has judged many pageants, Kirk knew how easy it can be for performances to blur together as the night goes on.

“I wanted to create a moment that would be remembered. In male pageantry, we don’t have as many tools as our female counterparts, the walk is simpler, the format is tighter. But within those limits, you still need to find a way to stand out and every detail counts,” he said.

Kirk credited Libiran and his team for bringing his vision to life, describing their collaboration as a vital part of the moment.

“Francis, your sharpness, your kindness, and your constant innovation inspire me. None of this would’ve been possible without you,” he said.

Kirk ended his post with a side note for pageant aspirants.

“Draft your design yourself and work closely with a trusted designer. Be specific. When your moment finally comes, you’ll want to step out there feeling 110% confident in both yourself and the vision you helped create.”

Kirk won the Mister International 2025 title last month during the grand coronation night held in Bangkok.

He is the second Filipino to win Mister International, following Neil Perez in 2014.

Prior to Mister International, Kirk competed in Mister World in 2024, where he finished in the Top 20.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Kirk Bondad (@kirk_bondad)

—Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News