Markki Stroem 

MANILA -- At 37, there's no stopping Marcello Angelo Ledesma Strøm (better known as Markki Stroem) in reaching his fullest potential as an individual and as an entertainer.

Apart from earning a Gawad Buhay citation for his portrayal of Orin Scrivello, a motorcycle-riding black leather jacket-wearing sadistic dentist in the bloodthirsty musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” by The Sandbox Collective, he's also venturing into a male beauty pageant.

He admitted that this kind of gave him more confidence to compete.

"It was such a pleasure to work with a masterclass of actors. I have been in the Philippine theater scene now for almost 15 years and it is always a pleasure to receive a kind nod for the hard work we put in,” he said of the Gawad Buhay citation.

"It certainly gave me a boost in the stage department to push me to strive to do my best for the competition."

But why compete in Mister Universe?

"Interestingly, I was appointed by the organization, around this time last year. I have hosted a slew of pageants, judged more than a handful, even provided swimwear for one. I realized I have actually never joined a pageant?” he said.

"So, I decided to give it one last hurrah. Time to see how far experience and a whole lot of passion can take me."

On December 22 in Los Angeles, California, Stroem will be competing in Mister Universe, a global, inclusive brand that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds, and religions. The contest creates and provides a safe space for men to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically. The men who participate in this international platform serves as inspirational leaders and role models to their communities and fans around the world.

He will vie against 47 candidates around the globe and will not only be judged for his physical attributes, but also for his leadership qualities and potential to make a difference on a global scale. The titleholder will serve as ambassador of goodwill in various international events, engage in charitable activities.

Stroem is one multi-faceted person and he sees the world as his oyster!

"I love to entertain, I hope to experience new shoes, try new hats and continue to enjoy all that life has to offer! After all, we only have one,” he said.

In all these things, how does he describe himself? How does he want people to remember him?

With his expressive eyes, he didn't flinch in saying, "I am an entertainer. I love to make people happy. As long as I continue to love what I do, I will try my hardest to get better at my craft,” he said.

"It’s a magical world we live in, it might be time to explore it! Perform for new crowds and different cultures. This has always been a dream of mine."