13 things about Mister Universe 2024 fourth runner-up Markki Stroem

Marcello Angelo “Markki” Stroem was born in Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines, the hometown of his Filipino mother Lea Ledesma Stroem. He represented the country in the inaugural edition of Mister Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Stroem is a Norwegian-Filipino actor, singer and beauty king. Abandoned as a child, he was adopted by Rune Stroem, who is Norwegian.

When Markki was young, he and his parents lived in different countries including Germany and Switzerland. He earned his bachelor’s degrees in marketing and hotel and restaurant management from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland.

On March 21, 2025, Markki turned 38. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. From 1987 to 1993, he lived with his maternal grandparents in Antipolo.
2. In 1990, his Ilonggo nanny taught him the Visayan song “Ili-ili”.
3. In 1993, he moved to his parents’ house in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
4. From 1996 to 1999, he and his family lived in Germany.
5. From 2005 to 2009, he and his family lived in Switzerland.
6. In 2010, he competed in “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 1.
7. From 2011 to 2022, he starred in 10 theater plays.
8. From 2011 to 2014, he was a host and a performer on the ABS-CBN show “ASAP”.
9. From 2012 to 2020, he starred in nine films.
10. Between 2013 and 2019, he starred in four episodes of the ABS-CBN show “Maalaala Mo Kaya”.
11. In 2021, he made his catwalk debut.
12. He is Mister Universe Philippines 2024 and was Mister Universe 2024 fourth runner-up.
13. He starred in the 2024 film “Lolo and the Kid” and the 2025 film “One Hit Wonder”.

TIMELINE

Markki is 5’10” tall. He speaks English, Filipino, German, Spanish, French and Norwegian.

2010s

• He was a finalist in “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 1, which aired on ABS-CBN from February 20, 2010 to June 13, 2010.

2010s

• On October 29, 2021, he made his catwalk debut at the Arab Fashion Week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates wearing platform heels and an underwear.
• In 2022, he starred in three television series.
• On June 25, 2023, he hosted a lesbian, gay, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) event in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
• On December 1, 2024, he and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach attended the World AIDS Day Summit 2024 in Pasig City as ambassadors of the official U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) campaign of the Philippines’ Department of Health and LoveYourself, Inc.
• On December 22, 2024, he represented the Philippines at Mister Universe 2024 and competed against 12 other candidates at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California, United States. He was fourth runner-up to Patrick Callahan.