Philippines' JB Saliba is Mr. World Asia and Oceania 2019

JB Saliba

On August 23, 2019, 72 countries were represented at the Mr. World 2019 coronation night at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The host country representative was not crowned as the successor of Mister World 2016 Rohit Khandelwal, 29, of India but the Filipino contestant was crowned Mr. World Asia and Oceania 2019.

Jody Baines Tejano Saliba, 26, of Olongapo City, Philippines was one of the three candidates from Asia who made it to the Top 12 along with Akshay Jung Rayamajhi, 22, of Nepal and Jean-Paul Bitar, 33, of Lebanon. None of them made it to the Top 5.

One candidate from Oceania also made it to the Top 12. Mikaele Henry Ahomana, 24, of Tonga earned the spot by winning the talent and creativity challenge, which was one of the five fast track events.

Saliba almost won the top model challenge, which was also a fast track event. He made it to the Top 5 of the challenge, which was won by Brian Faugier, 25, of Mexico.

It was Jack Heslewood, 27, of England who was crowned Mr. World 2019. Fezile Mkhize, 28, of South Africa was first runner-up while Faugier was second runner-up.

An actor and a model, Saliba wants to become a pilot someday. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Science from the University of the Philippines.

Saliba is a former member of the UP Maroons baseball team. He also used to play for the Philippines’ national baseball team.

Including Saliba, four other continental winners were crowned namely Mr. World Caribbean 2019 Alejandro Martinez, 26, of Dominican Republic, Mr. World Europe 2019 Alberto Nodale, 28, of Austria, Faugier as Mr. World Americas and Mkhize as Mr. World Africa. Nodale is Austrian-Filipino.

It was on October 23, 2018 when Saliba was crowned Mr. World Philippines 2018. He succeeded Sam Adjani, 25, of Iloilo City, Philippines, who did not place in Mr. World 2016.

Mr. World 2019 marked the first time the international made pageant was held in the Philippines. The country has yet to have a titleholder in the pageant.

The Philippine candidate with the highest rank in Mr. World was Filipino-British Rugby Sevens Player Andrew Wolff, 34. He was runner-up to Mr. World 2012 Francisco Escobar, 28, of Colombia.