Newly crowned Mr World Nigeria Michael Mazi-Michael is set to represent Nigeria on the global stage at the Mr World competition in Vietnam.
In an interview with QEDNG, Michael discussed his journey to winning the national title, the challenges he faced and his determination to bring the global title home to Africa.
Reflecting on his Mr World Nigeria journey, Michael revealed the rigorous physical events he underwent at the competition, particularly in sports like swimming, taekwondo and kickboxing.
“Kickboxing is a whole different ball game,” he noted.
With limited time to prepare for the global pageantry, having only concluded the Mr World Nigeria competition on October 13, Michael is still optimistic about his readiness for the global pageant.
He described his approach as “similar preparation” to what he did previously, albeit on a larger scale.
“Because now, as I have emerged victor in Nigeria, there are other people who have also won in their countries, so I know I have to up the scale,” he explained.
In addition to physical preparation, Michael is working on building his international perspective, researching ways to better connect with contestants from diverse backgrounds.
Unlike the Nigerian competition, where contestants often share similar cultural backgrounds, he will now face competitors from all over the world.
Michael also shared his commitment to refining his performance by reviewing questions and activities from past competitions.
He revealed that although he occasionally experiences stage fright and anxiety, he does not let these feelings stand in the way of his goals.
Michael said various events at the competition would test both physical and mental skills, including arm wrestling, running and intellectual games.
The model discussed the voting process and expressed hope that if Nigeria reaches the top three, there will be a real chance to bring the title to Africa.
Winning the global Mr World title would be particularly significant for Michael, as no Nigerian or African has achieved this feat.
The 26-year-old also spoke about the stigma surrounding male pageantry, noting that men do not receive as much recognition as women in the industry.
“We are here and we are here to stay,” he affirmed, underscoring his commitment to raising the profile of male pageantry.
In addition to his modelling career, Michael is a nurse with a passion for caring for others.
He concluded by sharing his desire to inspire future generations.
“I want to lay an impact for the upcoming generation. I want to reach a point where people think about Mr World Nigeria, Michael Mazi-Michael, and say, ‘I want to be like that guy,'” he said.
Michael Mazi-Michael claimed the title of Mr World Nigeria on October 13, triumphing over 10 other finalists.
