Nigeria’s Samuel Nwajaju has made history by becoming the first African to win the Mister International pageant.

The 23-year-old model and undergraduate from the University of Port Harcourt clinched the title during the 16th edition of the global competition, held on Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nwajaju competed against a record-breaking 47 contestants from around the world, securing his victory alongside the Best Swimwear award. The Nigerian emerged as the top contestant, ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyễn Mạnh Lân, who was the first runner-up, and Indonesia’s Glenn Victor Sutanto, the second runner-up.

This year’s edition of Mister International was groundbreaking as it allowed fathers, married, and divorced men to participate for the first time in its history. Nwajaju earned his spot in the competition by winning the Mister of Nigeria 2024 title in June at an event held at Lagos Oriental Hotel.

Although the specific cash prize for the competition remains undisclosed, winners of Mister International enjoy sponsorship deals, endorsements, and opportunities to work with global brands. Additionally, Nwajaju will engage in promotional and charitable events worldwide during his reign.

Nwajaju’s win is a monumental achievement for Nigeria and Africa, furthering the continent’s recognition on the global stage of male pageantry.