33 men from across the globe dazzle in their national costume for beauty pageant

Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 22, 2022.

Beauty pageants always divide opinions and, especially of late, have faced much criticism for objectifying women. Some would argue that beauty pageants can be empowering but only if they're more inclusive. But one pageant that stood out was Mister Global, an all-male beauty pageant that features men from various countries. Mister Global has many events but the one that is most awaited is the "National Costume,” a segment in which the contestants wear outfits representing their country and culture. In 2022, the beauty pageant returned after a hiatus of two years due to the pandemic, reported MyModernMet. A total of 33 men from different countries traveled to Thailand to participate in the event. 2022's competition was captured by photographer David Ryo, who shot amazing portraits to highlight their cultures and frame. At the end of the event, Spain's 21-year-old Miguel Ángel Lucas won the top prize.

Here are 33 amazing portraits from the Mister Global beauty pageant's National Costume segment:

1.  Bolivia

2. Cuba

3. France

4. Hong Kong

5. India

6. Indonesia

7. Brazil

8. The Czech Republic

9. Cambodia

10. Ecuador

11. The Dominican Republic

12. Japan

13. Korea

14. Laos

15. Macau

16. Malaysia

17. Mexico

18. Myanmar

19. Nigeria

20. Switzerland

21. Venezuela

22. Vietnam

23. USA

24.  The United Kingdom

25. Thailand

26. Sri Lanka

27. Spain 

28. South Africa

29. Romania

30. Puerto Rico

31. Peru

32. The Philippines

33.  Panama

You can check out David Ryo's work on Instagram.