Bibek Khadka, 19, of Nepal was one of the 49 candidates at Mister Ocean 2017, which culminated in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on November 24, 2017. The university student represented his home country in the inaugural edition of the international beauty pageant for men.
Among the unforgettable moments Khadka had during the Mister Ocean 2017 competition were the midnight training and the times when he tried Taiwanese food. In a statement exclusively obtained by CONAN Daily, he said, “Knowing people from all around the world is the most memorable thing.”
Coming from a multi-religious and multicultural country, Khadka believes in hard work and describes himself as “a spiritual and positive person.” He said, “Nothing is impossible for me.”
Khadka is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil and rural engineering. He hails from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, which was one of the filming locations of the 2015 film “Everest” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and the 2016 film “Doctor Strange” starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
For Khadka, Mister Ocean 2017 did not only give him exposure. It also gave him brothers for life, he said.
Among the 48 other Mister Ocean 2017 candidates, the ones Khadka felt very close to were Mister Japan Ryo Arizumi, Mister Cote d’Ivoire Paul-abraham Kobieni and Mister Belarus Seniuts Igor. The representative from Nepal considered Arizumi, Kobieni and Igor as his brothers who helped him and always motivated him throughout the pageant.
Arizumi finished as Mister Ocean 2017 second runner-up and won the Best Catwalk award. Kobieni also won two awards, Mister Friendship second runner-up and Best Talent second runner-up, but he did not make it to the semi-finals.
Both Igor and Khadka made it to the semifinals but did not advance to the finals. The Belarusian candidate won Best Body while the Nepalese candidate was Mister Photogenic second runner-up.
CONAN Daily 