Markki Stroem has had multi-media stints in local entertainment. He first received public attention via the television reality show Pilipinas Got Talent. Since then he has crossed over to live stage, to performing his own music, appearing in runway shows, doing a regular radio show and acting in TV series. And with this new platform offered to him in Mister Universe 2024, which will be held in Los Angeles, California, USA on December 22, he is ready for the global stage.
In an exclusive interview we did with Markki when he was first appointed as the Philippine representative to Mister Universe nine months ago, he declared that his participation could be a passport to Hollywood itself. “I would be interested to start a career internationally if I was given the opportunity. It (Mister Universe) could be a great way to not just showcase my advocacies but so be able to, I say, penetrate the international market,” he said.
Markki, 37, will be competing with around 54 appointed delegates from all over the world. It is notable that most of the contestants have carved their careers already in the modeling scenes or in the entertainment and social media industries in their respective countries, just like Markki.
Aside from Philippines, early pageant favorites are fitness model and motivation speaker Yusuf Hendratno of Indonesia, international runway model Matty Koelen of Canada, social media influencer Andres Castellini of Colombia, fitness influencer Richard Heinze of Germany, mental health advocate Cornac Murphy of USA and reality TV star and athlete Kori Sampson of the United Kingdom.
Markki, however, flies to LA unfazed by the competition. When asked who is his biggest competition, he could not name any. “I try not really look at the competition. It just adds to the pressure and it could not really help me in any way. But I am aware that it will be a tough contest. I will just focus on myself and do the best I could,” he remarked.
Aside from harnessing this opportunity to work internationally, our Mister Philippines is also excited to talk about his advocacy which is HIV awareness. This isn’t something that Markki has to do for the sake of getting ahead in the competition. Before even named as PH’s representative to the global tilt, he is already amongst the ambassadors of Love Yourself, a local non-government organization which aims to educate the youth about the nature of HIV and ways to protect themselves against the virus.
“This is something that I am so passionate about. And I don’t think I need training for this. I can just speak from my heart,” said the radio host who also appears on air almost every day via the morning show ‘The Morning Rush’. Markki has raised concerns on the rising cases of HIV, specifically to the younger members of the LGBTQ community, in which he aligns himself as an ally.
“From a nation with among the growing cases of HIV, it would be good to talk about how we are doing things here in the Philippines as far as HIV diagnosis and prevention is concerned. And what are the things that we can still do,” he added.
En route to this very month which he is set to compete, Markki has to complete his live stage appearances in the recently-concluded productions of ‘Rent’ and ‘Mula Sa Buwan’, but has to stay focus in his fitness. “Most of the Filipinos are skinny and lean. That’s just our body type. I am aware that I will be competing with big men from other countries so I have to really bulk up, and then tone my body from there.”There is no specific body weight or proportion that he is trying to achieved but he said that he will be fine as long as he feels good about himself.
Several local designers has expressed their support already on helping Mr. Stroem get all the clothes and the costumes that he need to compete. Markki assures that the Filipino ingenuity will once again shine through in the world stage as he waives the Philippines flag in Mister Universe 2024.