13 things about Mister International USA 2024 Josef O’Brien

Josef W. O’Brien represented Utah, United States in the inaugural edition of Mister USA. He represented the country in the 16th edition of Mister International.

BIOGRAPHY

O’Brien is an American chemical engineer, professional rugby player and beauty king born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Aside from Cleveland, he has lived in other parts of Ohio including Chagrin Falls and Columbus.

After graduating from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, O’Brien entered Ohio State University in Columbus. He played rugby in both schools.

In July 2025, O’Brien turned 26. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. In 2014, he started playing rugby.
2. In 2017, he graduated from Saint Ignatius High School and visited France, Switzerland, Germany and Hungary.
3. From 2017 to 2021, he attended Ohio State University where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
4. In 2018, he visited Bermuda.
5. From 2018 to 2021, he was an intern at The Lubrizol Corporation in Wickliffe, Ohio.
6. From 2022 to 2023, he was a process engineer at The Lubrizol Corporation.
7. In 2023, he visited Slovenia.
8. From 2023 to 2025, he was a project engineer at Beyond Meat in El Segundo, California, USA.
9. In 2024, he and Hayley Langer got engaged and he visited Thailand.
10. He is Mister Utah USA 2024 and Mister International USA 2024.
11. He was Mister USA 2024 second runner-up.
12. He was a Mister International 2024 candidate.
13. In 2025, he played rugby for the Slovenian national team against both Italy and Austria’s teams in an exhibition tournament and joined Brothers Desserts in Santa Ana, California as an engineering project manager.

TIMELINE

Obrien is 6’2″ tall. He reigned as Mister International USA 2024 while playing for both Rugby Football Club Los Angeles and Belmont Shore Rugby Football Club.

2010s

• In March 2017, he traveled to Paris, France.
• In May 2017, he graduated from Saint Ignatius High School.
• In August 2017, he traveled to Grindelwald, Switzerland; Munich, Germany and Budapest, Hungary and entered Ohio State University.
• In March 2018, he traveled to Hamilton, Bermuda.
• In May 2018, he became an intern at The Lubrizol Corporation in Wickliffe.

2020s

• In June 2021, he graduated from Ohio State University.
• In August 2021, his internship at The Lubrizol Corporation ended.
• In February 2022, he became a full-time employee of The Lubrizol Corporation.
• In June 2023, he left The Lubrizol Corporation.
• In July 2023, he traveled to Ljubljana, Slovenia and joined Beyond Meat in El Segundo.
• In March 2024, he became Langer’s fiancé.
• On August 31, 2024, he represented Utah at Mister USA 2024 and competed against 19 other candidates at the Crystal Ballroom of Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California. He was second runner-up to Cormac Murphy and was crowned Mister International USA 2024.
• On December 3, 2024, he traveled from Los Angeles to Bangkok, Thailand.
• On December 14, 2024, he represented the U.S. at Mister International 2024 and competed against 46 other candidates at the Island Hall of Fashion Island in Khan Na Yao, Bangkok. He was unplaced but he won the Mister Congeniality award.
• In March 2025, he left Beyond Meat.
• In April 2025, he joined Brothers Desserts in Santa Ana.