KINGSTON, Jamaica — Correctional officer and part-time model Rhyeme Wright, is Mr Manhunt International Jamaica 2025.

He was selected as the winner last December during a virtual staging of the competition.

Wright, who is from St Thomas, heads to Bangkok, Thailand next month, where he will compete in Manhunt International, the oldest male modelling competition in the world.

Jamaica was previously represented at the competition by the likes of Marlon Atkinson, Tafawah Thompson, Russana Roberts and popular model Kirk Headley, who placed third in 1999, Jamaica’s highest placement in the competition to date.

In a recent interview with Observer Online, Staffan Richards Casserly, national director and franchise holder, said the decision to send a representative to Manhunt International was aimed at creating an avenue outside of Jamaica for male models.

“The interest to send a representative to Manhunt International for Jamaica is to give male models a different avenue to make it on the international scene, outside of the traditional format that Jamaicans have always known to use in becoming a model. Winning the title Manhunt International Jamaica is a life-changing opportunity as a catapult to the model onto the international scene where he’s instantly recognised around the world and kick-starts his international modelling career with various opportunities that would not come from traditional modelling agencies,” said Richards.

It has been more than 20 years since the local leg of Manhunt International Jamaica has been held. Richards shared that there wasn’t much interest in the revival of the pageant.

“There was not a lot of interest as most Jamaicans would not have known what Manhunt International is. Jamaican male models are more familiar with the other organisations that host these major model searches. Hopefully, there will be more interest for the 2026 edition, by then Manhunt International would have become more known to Jamaicans,” he said, noting too that the current titleholder was selected from a field of professional and aspiring models. “The winner was selected from a field of 12 professional and aspiring models from Jamaica and Jamaicans living in Canada as well as the United States.”

Richards also spoke about the judging criteria and how the winner was selected.

“The candidates were judged on the following criteria: their runway modelling skills; physique; and casting challenge, where the models were asked to submit a 30-second video of themselves walking the runway, posing and captivating the camera with their looks. They were also judged on their personality and their photographic image.”

The Manhunt International World final is scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 2-11. More than 40 male models from around the world are scheduled to participate. The winner will be announced on June 10.

Asked how male models benefit from the international leg of the competition, Richards said, “They get the chance to represent their country on an international stage. It also helps to develop their international model portfolio and gives them exposure to a wider audience. Models who compete at Manhunt International have walked the runway for major international fashion designers, including Michael Cinco and have graced the runways of Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. The winners of Manhunt International not only get a chance to become an international model, but most of the winners have gone on to have illustrious careers in the film industry.”

According to Wright, he was encouraged to enter the modelling arena by teachers and schoolmates.

“The modelling aspect of my life started late in high school. Teachers and students said that I looked like a model, and I did some introspection and decided to give it a try,” Wright shared, noting that he is looking forward to the finals in Thailand.

“I must say that it is an absolute pleasure to be representing my country in Thailand, and I am looking forward to the camaraderie from the other competitors. I also want to use this to build my self-confidence. I aspire to become a professional model or an actor, and I hope that this opportunity will set the stage for other male models to enter the competition.”

— Kevin Jackson

Mr Manhunt Jamaica 2025 Rhyeme Wright