Axel Pallier of France was crowned Mister Model International 2026 on Saturday night in Barranquilla, Colombia, at the pageant’s 10th anniversary edition. He beat 27 other delegates and succeeds Thailand’s Jack Titus, who won in the same city in June 2025. Brazil’s Igor Emanoell was first runner-up and Spain’s Diego González was second runner-up.

The Philippines’ Wendell Oliver Pamfilo of Nueva Ecija finished in the Top 5 and bagged the Mister Model International Asia and the Pacific title.

Who Is Axel Pallier

Pallier is a model and firefighter from Montpellier, the Mediterranean city in southern France. He stands 6’2″ and speaks French and English. Before modeling and pageants, he trained in network and cybersecurity engineering and studied international trade. He also worked as a showroom manager for a custom suit maker.

Barranquilla was not his first international stage. In April 2025, he represented Languedoc at Mister National France and finished second. That result made him Mister International France 2025, and he went on to Mister International in Thailand, where he finished in the Top 11 and was named the pageant’s Europe continental winner. That was the edition the Philippines’ Kirk Bondad won. Pallier also walked the runway at Swim Week Las Vegas in August 2025.

This time he went all the way. The win also gives France another international male pageant crown in a run that has lasted two years.

France’s Run

France has become a powerhouse in male pageantry. Swann Lavigne won Mister Supranational 2025, France’s first title at that pageant. Adonis Renaud won Manhunt International 2025, and in September, Dylan Palmerini made it back-to-back for France with Manhunt International 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Pallier’s win in Barranquilla adds a fourth crown to that run.

The Final Question

The Top 5 got one shared question: how a global ambassador balances national pride with international solidarity, and what was the most important lesson they had learned from their fellow delegates.

Axel Pallier (France) answered with his own story. He talked about overcoming doubt and past setbacks, and about not letting outside noise decide his worth. For him, national pride means carrying your identity with quiet strength. On solidarity, he pointed to the time spent backstage with men from completely different backgrounds. That experience, he said, showed him that language and borders stop mattering when you lead with empathy.

Igor Emanoell (Brazil), a 26-year-old model and digital influencer from João Pessoa who earned his spot through a Top 6 finish at Mister Brazil CNB 2026, focused on resilience and solidarity.

Diego González (Spain) answered in Spanish and focused on responsibility. A proud representative, he said, has to show responsibility at home first. Anyone able to lift others up should do it, as long as their own foundation can hold. He described delegates and nations growing together, with each person still responsible for his own journey.

Dalfry Hernández (Dominican Republic) spoke about integrity, resilience, and faith. He said he learned perseverance by watching other delegates get through their own struggles during the competition. A Mister Model, he said, keeps values like honesty and hard work even under global scrutiny. He ended on faith and shared purpose as a way across cultural lines.

Wendell Oliver Pamfilo (Philippines) described national pride as a platform for service. Representing the Philippines, he said, taught him that solidarity begins when delegates see each other as brothers with shared missions. The biggest lesson he took from the other delegates was unity built on purpose: young men from around the world combining their strengths to help communities.

Wendell Pamfilo Bags Asia and the Pacific

Pamfilo is a model-actor managed by Cornerstone Entertainment, and he also works in sales in fashion and retail. He represented his father’s hometown of Nueva Ecija at the Mister World Philippines 2026 coronation in August at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, campaigning on youth empowerment through sports. He collected the Best Body and Charity fast-track awards during that competition and was named Mister Model International Philippines on coronation night.

In Barranquilla, he advanced through the Top 12 into the Top 5, and his national costume was one of five the organization recognized. The costume was a Mindanao-inspired Manobo design by Edwin Uy. The Manobo are one of the Indigenous peoples of Mindanao.

Hours before the final, he posted this on Instagram:

“The journey, the passion and the purpose have led me to this moment.🙏🏻 Tonight I step onto the stage not just to compete but to represent a dream, inspire others and empower those who dare to believe in themselves.”

The Continental Winners

• Asia and the Pacific: Wendell Oliver Pamfilo, Philippines
• Americas: Yadir Sánchez, Chile
• Caribbean: Dalfry Hernández, Dominican Republic
• Europe: Rodrigo Szenek, Hungary
• Territories: Sebastian Plata, San Andrés Island, the Colombian island in the Caribbean

Special Awards

Fashion Night Challenge: Genser Guerra of Guatemala won the social media and editorial challenge hosted by Titus Model Management, the agency led by outgoing titleholder Jack Titus. The win came with a cash prize announced during the preliminary competition.

Best National Costume: The organization named a Top 5 instead of a single winner: the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Best Body: Jose Ramos of Aruba won. A Top 5 shortlist was announced during the swimsuit preliminary: Yadir Sánchez (Chile), Vaughn Miller (Jamaica), Alex Cardona (Mexico), Diego González (Spain), and Joan Sandoval (Honduras).

Best in Runway: Oswaldo Martinez (Puerto Rico)

Field Notes

Mister Model International 2026 (10th Anniversary Edition)
📍 Barranquilla, Colombia
October 31, 2026 (November 1 in Manila)
28 delegates

Winner: Axel Pallier (France)
1st Runner-Up: Igor Emanoell (Brazil)
2nd Runner-Up: Diego González (Spain)
Top 5: Wendell Oliver Pamfilo (Philippines), Dalfry Hernández (Dominican Republic)
Top 12: Yadir Sánchez (Chile), Rodrigo Szenek (Hungary), Julio Pichling (Peru), Alex Cardona (Mexico), Khemmarat Phiraban (Thailand), Mike Castañeda (Colombia), Miguel Palma (Venezuela)