Mister Universe Philippines 2024 Markki Stroem. MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Markki Stroem is back in the Philippines after representing the country at the Mister Universe 2024 in Hollywood, California USA.

Stroem finished 4th runner up in the competition and also took home Best in Talent and Best in National Costume.

“Overall, it was such a great experience. I enjoyed myself,” said Stroem.

More than his awards, it was his controversial introduction during the pageant that landed Stroem in the headlines.

According to Stroem, all 20 finalists were asked to come up with a moniker for their country.

“Ako, gumawa ako ng sarili ko — ‘From the land of three stars and a sun.’ Eh the problem with the stage experience and the stress that came with it, for some reason, it came out the way it did,” he said.

Stroem accidentally said: “From the land of the rising sun, Philippines”.

From that moment, he knew he made a big mistake.

“I knew, yung sinabi ko, don’t look like you made a mistake. Just keep going and that’s what we do in theater kasi. That’s the key, just push forward,” Stroem said.

He added, “Even if you make a mistake, just correct it because the judges might not notice. And guess what, they didn’t notice and I still ended up 4th runner up.”

He admits that the error made him lose focus, however.

“Medyo na-derail yung focus ko. There was a part of me of that ‘oh shoot’. I know I made a mistake and I had a feeling that everyone is going to bash me. So, like I put my phone away but there was still a part of me that was like it was messing with me,” said Stroem.

Despite emerging as fourth runner-up, he still received plenty of criticism — which Stroem accepted.

“Well, pinag-usapan ako at the end of the day. And when people talk about you, eventually they will forget about it. And move on with their lives,” he said. “I’m trying to look at it at the best possible way. Wala silang pake pag perfect yung performance mo. Oh he won, okay moving on. Pero ngayon, may controversy, maingay, pinag-usapan.”

The pageant was one big learning experience for him. “It did not prepare me for that experience on that stage” said Stroem, who pointed out the difference between him and other contestants.

“I’m 37, my colleagues are around 20. So I had to blend in somehow, and I guess from the experience I have in show business here, I’ve learned a lot but the experience is also different when you’re on stage,” he said.

“It was not like a pageant that everyone was new. All of the people that I was with had more than 2 million followers on Tiktok, kasali sa ‘Love Island’ USA, all of them are experienced in their own right. So, that also kinda messed with my head,” he added.

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