Larz Dawson off to Bali for Mister Universe Tourism 2024
Ginoong Pilipinas 2023 Larz Kent Dawson isn’t typically active on social media. But when he did begin to boost his online presence for his upcoming international pageant, the Cebuano model made sure to stay on brand.
“I did a shoot with a photographer in Manila who was in Cebu recently. His name is Robin Lumapas, so I took the opportunity to work with him,” Dawson told The FREEMAN in a catchup interview at Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel.
“It was a fashion editorial since that’s his forte, and that’s my preferred genre because I don’t like doing sexy shoots,” he admitted. “I don’t want to perpetuate the stigma of pageant kings being all about the body. I want to create a particular audience. I don’t want to attract the wrong kind of following. It’s more on myself as a person than how I am physically.”
Set to represent the Philippines in this year’s Mister Universe Tourism in Bali, Indonesia, Dawson is well aware that he has to flaunt his physique in the competition – although he is much eager to show off what’s between his ears.
“A lot of preparation has been done in terms of my fitness. One of my main goals is to be fit for Bali considering it’s hot there and I assume there’s going to be a lot of swimwear. I want my body to be at my best so I did a lot of workouts, almost every day now,” he said.
While Dawson doesn’t want to pressure himself too much, he has big shoes to fill as the outgoing title-holder is Cebu City-based model Erik Lennart Visser, who will crown his successor this March 24.
“My mindset going there is just to give my best foot forward, my ultimate best, or maybe try not to be a half-baked candidate,” he said. “I have been in contact with Erik many times and he’s been giving me a lot of advice about the pageant, like it’s quite hot [in Bali] so I have to be in my best health physically and mentally. I heard so far that the schedule there is not that tight, but it needs endurance and a lot of stamina like any other pageant.”
Dawson, 22, has looked up some of the candidates that he will be facing in Bali. “I only know Spain and South Africa and have been checking them on Instagram. Spain was really strong last year so I was looking up this year’s representative. He’s also looking strong, but I hope I can bring a good fight,” he added.
Another subject that Dawson researched on was sustainable tourism, which he has since incorporated into his original cause of sustainable entrepreneurship, saying, “it is linked to tourism since we are an island with a lot of things to offer.”
Apart from his pageant commitments, Dawson has also been kept occupied with completing all requirements before graduating this May from his Business Administration course at the University of San Carlos – hopefully with Latin honors.
“I have always been into business since I was young. It’s in the family genes,” remarked Dawson, who has plans to open a cafe in Toledo City which will offer products made from the coffee beans of neighboring Tuburan town.
“Aside from Business Administration giving me flexible career options, it’s also really where my passion is. I just love to provide a need. It’s what my professors say: Business is not just about selling a product, it’s providing a need.”
When moments of self-doubt creep in, Dawson goes back to what one beauty queen once told him.
“I asked her how she still feels confident even if there are many others who might be taller, prettier, and sexier than her. Her advice stuck with me: ‘There is something you can offer that they cannot. Use that to your advantage,’” he shared.