Beauty queens sashaying down fancy ramps is passe. The men in our city are getting as competitive in the aesthetic sphere with pageantry that involves a great show of skin and sensibilities. The recent win of celebrity fitness trainer Bharat Raj at a international fitness pageant set him up for a career in the media with some film directors eyeing him for roles. His stints as a trainer for Sarathkumar and Varalakshmi Sarathkumar now seem to stand him in good stead to now branch out into a career in the mass media.
Chennai’s most famous fitness personality, Mukund Venkat who had helmed gym chains in Chennai before being noticed at a international men’s physique pageant in Singapore is now a brand ambassador for a UK-based fitness gear company and is one of London’s most sought-after trainers. His humble life in Besant Nagar is now in contrast to his lavish life and career in one of the world’s most expensive cities, London.
Mukund Venkat says, “Men’s pageants help us get recognition and also hugely inspire other men to take care of themselves. Beauty is always associated with women, but I’m glad men too are getting conscious of their looks and bodies. These pageants catapult us to fame and better financial positions. Most of us land jobs as promoters for clothing brands internationally and even get hired as lifestyle coaches by corporates.”
Jackson Netto, who won Mr Gay World, is also from South India with roots in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, now lives in London and is a fashion model for some top international brands. He says, “A beauty pageant helps us to showcase our ability and endurance. The pageant gave me so much of acceptance and courage to be who I truly wanted to be.
These platforms increase our global reach and I have managed to model for some of the best brands in the world.”
City-based model and fitness enthusiast Aravindhan, who is gearing up for a pageant in a few weeks, says, “I want to prove that I am also capable of being famous and inspirational. These platforms are a way of recognising our years of hard work in building our bodies and the sacrifices we go through.”
