MANHUNT INT'L 2024 KEVIN DASOM EYES HOLLYWOOD NEXT

When Manhunt International 2024 Kevin Dasom was told that he might come off as "intimidating" to girls - being a pageant king and all, not to mention the Henry Cavill a.k.a. "Superman" resemblance - he begged to disagree.

- Nathalie M. Tomada

In his younger years, he revealed that he was shy to pursue anyone "not because I didn't want to but because I was still growing up...

I was chubby, fat-faced, had really curly hair, scars all over my face. I had baby fat until I was maybe 24 or 25. I was never really looked at as conventionally attractive or handsome." "I'm a late bloomer," he further admitted.

"I've never really had the chance or developed the mindset to approach that space. But I don't think I'm intimidating." He realized that he did "glow up" when he got into modeling. "I started my modeling career because of a university pageant in Thailand. We call it 'Dao and the Moon and Star.' I won that one, and then I started getting into modeling. In modeling, they say, 'Oh, you're good-looking and handsome,' and I was like, "What? No one told me this before!"

"I never really thought about it all the time. I work out, I eat healthy, I try, not because I want to look good, but because I want to feel good. Looking good is just a result of taking care of myself."

The STAR, along with a few other members of the press, caught up with Kevin during his photoshoot for the latest MAN collection by leading pageant shoemaker Jojo Bragais. The brand is also the official footwear partner of Manhunt International's 23rd edition. For the shoot, Kevin modeled signature pieces like the Elevator Shoes, Reversibelt and Baybayin sneakers (check out Jojo Bragais Man's at the flagship store along Scout Borromeo in Quezon City).

Anyway, when the Thai-Irish model-athlete officially steps down as Manhunt International 2024 on June 10, he is also stepping off the pageant stage for good.

While forever grateful for his title, he's ready to move on, with sights set on Hollywood.

Currently, Kevin is getting acting exposure as one of the leading men in the GMA series "Binibining Marikit."