Team The Sunday Morning Happinez got to chat with the charming Hans Nathan Koch, the latest winner of Mr. Sri Lanka. Earlier in February, Koch took the international stage and competed in the exciting Mister Global pageant held in Thailand.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am Hans Nathan Koch, current Mr. Sri Lanka for Mister Global 2022. I was born and raised in the heart of Sri Lanka, Colombo. I schooled at Isipathana College. I have been an established model and an actor for the past 11 years. Yes, I did enter the modelling field at the age of 16. I became a commercial actor at the age of five. I also represented Sri Lanka at the best male model pageant in the world in Spain and was placed in the top five. I have further worked as an administrative representative of the Sri Lankan Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Besides all that, I am a big fitness and nutrition enthusiast who is also a sports fanatic. I was a junior national squad track and field athlete from 2010 to 2013 and a former cricketer for the Geneva Sri Lanka Cricket Club back in Switzerland. I’m a practitioner of MMA and boxing as well.

What do you do apart from modelling? 

Apart from modelling/acting, I am a fitness and nutrition coach and a freelance real estate agent who works for myself. I believe in people doing what makes them happy and what keeps them passionate about their career choices and if being an entrepreneur is one’s passion, then that’s what one should do. But if one’s passionate about excelling in the corporate field, then I encourage them to give it their best in that field too.

Tell us a little about Mister Global 2022.

It was a rollercoaster ride but at the same time, it taught me a lot about myself and my strengths. This developed me into a greater version of myself and helped me build more confidence within my own skin.

Representing Sri Lanka on the global stage was such a surreal experience and it was also exciting. I learned so much about the cultures and hidden beauties of so many nations from all contestants that represented their wonderful nations. The fact that I got to make friends from each of those countries led me to work closely with people and contestants from similar and different fields of work and paths in life. I am so proud but at the same time so humbled that I received the opportunity to be the face of Sri Lanka at the Mister Global 2022 pageant in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

What inspired you to participate in this competition?

It was the fact that I got to make Sri Lanka proud by taking it to the world. I got to share the beauty of this nation and its cultural diversity, and promote the tourism sector of Sri Lanka as an ambassador. I believe by doing my part right, I was able to help the people of my country and was an inspiration to all young men and women out there.

How do you feel about the process of preparing for the competition? Were there any hurdles you had to overcome along the way?

It was certainly an eye-opening experience. When it comes to hurdles, I must mention that male pageants in Sri Lanka don’t really have the recognition they deserve. There are so many talented young men in this nation who just need that small push or boost to make it to the top. I faced a couple of financial hurdles. Preparing for a global competition is very costly and that’s where my main sponsor came in which was LCY clothing. Thankfully, they made this experience a dream come true and I’m so thankful to them for being a part of this journey and helping me take Sri Lanka to higher heights. If not for them, this would not have been a reality. Male pageant representatives in Sri Lanka are looked down upon and do not get the support they deserve even from the industry and community.

What have been some of the most exciting and memorable modelling experiences of your career?

Representing Sri Lanka on a global platform twice, modelling at international fashion shows such as Asian European Fashion Week in Paris, and also being a fitness model for Nike and Gap courtesy MAS Holdings.

What is one misconception people, in general, have about models?

 The biggest misconception people have about models is that this is not a real job. It is looked down upon by people as a simple source of making money which is so far from reality. As models, we dedicate our lives to looking a certain way and we build our personalities to be the best in the industry. We work as hard as everyone else to be recognised in a 1.6 billion dollar industry. There’s also a stereotype where people think that models sell their bodies for money and that our dignity can be purchased easily with a certain amount.

What advice would you give other men who are interested in being fashion models and those wanting to participate in global competitions just like Mister Global?

Be confident in who you are and how you look. If you have a dream to be a model or represent your country on a global stage, then go for it. Put in the work and achieve it. Keep in mind that if you believe in yourself and do what needs to be done, then nothing is impossible. Also, sign up with a reputable management company such as The Agency Sri Lanka. I can only speak on their behalf as I am a model who is proudly represented by them.

PHOTO © KOSH HIMAL HEWAGE