It's not easy to have a title, Mister Eco International Yosef Ali says

Yosef Ali may be a new pageant king, winning as the first-ever Mister Eco International, but he has shown awareness of his responsibilities as ambassador for environmental protection.

Ali and his fellow Mister Eco titleholders recently faced journalists and online content creators at a media conference held at the Empire Studio at Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Tuesday afternoon, June 16.

“I wanna say congratulations. I know it’s not easy to have a title. It’s not only an achievement, it’s a responsibility to do more for our planet, so good luck,” Ali said when Inquirer Entertainment asked for his message to his female counterpart, new Mexican queen, Palmira Ruiz.

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Ruiz took home the Miss Eco International from the Philippines’ Alexie May Brooks on May 22 (May 23 in Manila) during a coronation held in Alexandria, Egypt. She bested 43 other aspirants, including Gabby Carballo of Cebu, Philippines.

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Meanwhile, Egyptian Yosef Ali won his title on June 11 over 18 other delegates including the Philippines’ Kitt Cortez, who won second runner-up

Cortez was not in attendance during the mediacon due to a prior commitment. Joining Ali were his first runner-up Lucas Prince from France, and third runner-up Luigi Fiore from Italy.

The international male competition is organized by the same Egypt-based organization behind the Miss Eco International and Miss Eco Teen International pageants. The inaugural contest was mounted by Empire Philippines.

Ali shared that he found Filipinos to be warm. “I feel like I’m in my own home…I feel so much hospitality, the people are so kind, especially in Manila and Baguio,” he said.

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The new king also expressed his excitement to work on projects that aim to protect the planet from further degradation and to promote sustainable practices when he flies back home to Egypt, where the organization is also based.

No details of next year’s competition have been announced so far. But the Philippines is already prepared for the second edition with Godfrey Nikolia Murillo set to wave the country’s flag. He succeeded Cortez for the national title in April at the 2026 Mister Pilipinas Worldwide contest. /edv

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