(AFP)

TAICHUNG, Taiwan — A Bolivian student beat off heart throbs from around the world to win an international male beauty pageant in Taiwan on Saturday 19 December.

Photo: AFP

Bruno Kettels, 20, won out against 30 other hopefuls to take the Mister International crown.

Kettels, an engineering major, was crowned in front of an audience of 400 in a hotel in the island's central city of Taichung after walking down the catwalk in swimwear and evening wear. He was also interviewed.

"He's confident and he presents himself with style," said Alan Sim, president of the Mister Singapore organisation which created the pageant.

Kettels, who succeeded last year's Ngo Tien Doan of Vietnam, won 5,000 dollars and sponsorship contracts worth up to 45,000 dollars. He will also travel the world to promote AIDS awareness and other charity causes, Sim said.

The first and second runner-ups are Hector Soria of Spain and Marcelino Gebrayel of Lebanon.