Nov 03 - Antonin Irodia Is Crowned Mr Gibraltar 2017
Antonin Irodia was crowned Mr Gibraltar 2017 at a Phantom of the Opera themed pageant.
The show was held at John Mackintosh Hall and an audience filled with friends and family saw eight candidates take part in the show, which ultimately saw Antonin win the title of Mr Gibraltar, while Jordan Davis was crowned 1st Runner-Up for a second consecutive year and John Paul Suetta being crowned 2nd Runner-Up.
The show was presented by producer Mark Andrades and director Angel Ressa, who run Ideal Productions, who kept the audiences entertained and kept their cool despite a few technical glitches.
The candidates took part in a number of rounds, taking part in an introduction round with last year’s Mr Gibraltar Sean Vincent Acris and last year’s Mrs Gibraltar’s Princess Davinia Cano. Choreographed routines also included a casual wear round, a mask round which revealed the candidates to the audience and an elegant wear round, plus performances from Urban Dance. There were also breathtaking performances by Claire Hawkins and Phillip Borge.
The crowning was carried out by the outgoing Mr Gibraltar Sean, and Mrs Gibraltar 2017 Megan Danino and Mrs Europe 2017 Davinia Baglietto presented the prizes.
Sean wished his successor the best of luck, adding that this past year was a life changing experience for him.
Antonin, 27, said he “had no words” after he was announced as this year’s Mr Gibraltar winner.
He added: “This was so unexpected, I didn’t think it would go this way at any point. I am very surprised.
“I promise to do my best to do all the good work Sean did, he has put the standard so high, but with the right support I will be able to do my best and make Gibraltar proud.
“My Mr Gibraltar journey has been life changing because I have met so many personalities and characters that have influenced me as a person, an example I can look to is John Paul who has come over such a traumatic experience.”
In his role as Mr Gibraltar, Antonin looks forward to continuing with charity work and carrying on with the good work Ideal Productions has done so far.
Antonin moved to Gibraltar in 2009, after having lived in Romania and Italy. He started out working at a local bar and now works in an online gaming company in Gibraltar, and has made this place his home.
Jordan joked no one can take the 1st runner-up position from him after being given the same title two years in a row.
He said: “I am overwhelmed. The experience has been amazing. I have grown as a person, and for me it’s more about the charity work and I love helping people in need.”
Jordan explained that he used to work as an ambulance technician before sustaining an injury, and now although he can’t help people physically, this forum has given him the opportunity to help people in need emotionally.
During his time as Mr Gibraltar’s 1st runner up last year, Jordan represented the Rock at an international pageant in Peru and brought home two awards.
John Paul, who was crowned 2nd runner-up to Mr Gibraltar, said he was feeling amazing after the pageant, adding that he was pleased to have overcome his fear of being in large crowds.
He was also awarded with the Ideal Productions Award, which he said displays the amount of effort he puts in. He said the journey has been great, and has encouraged him to interact with many different people and take part in a number of events and work with many charities.
During the interview with YGTV, John Paul said he wanted to use this experience in Mr Gibraltar and his own experience of overcoming and living with a traumatic brain injury to help other victims in the future.
There were additional awards handed out on the night, with Mr Gibraltar Antonin also winning prizes for Mr Elegance, the Ideal Model award and Best Interview.
The award for Mr Friendship went to Marvyn Barber while Klaus Lohmann was handed the award for Mr Photogenic.
Mark Macias, Alfred Luis Balban, and Brandon Gibbins also took part in the pageant.
Mr Gibraltar Antonin will now prepare to represent the Rock at an international competition.
Photos By John Holmes and Justin Koen
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