Meet Joel Anthony (popularly known as Temsu Sanglir). He was born in Mokokchung and hails from Dimapur, Nagaland, where he is currently based. Standing 5’11”, he is pursuing his BA in Education while balancing his work as a student and model.
A polyglot, fluent in English, Hindi, Nagamese, Ao, and Japanese, Joel brings versatility and depth to everything he pursues. Gifted in music, he sings and plays multiple instruments including the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums and piano. His talents and determination earned him the prestigious title of Mr. Dimapur in 2024, alongside recognition as both a model and cover artist. Despite facing discrimination and criticism for his unconventional choices, he stood firm with resilience and faith, turning challenges into stepping stones. Winning his first major title gave him honour and recognition, but Joel sees it as a responsibility rather than just an achievement. With openness to growth, constructive feedback and continuous self-improvement, he strives to inspire others while staying grounded. For him, the journey is not about chasing fame but about becoming the best version of himself with every opportunity.
Here's an exclusive interview with him.
Q. You are a national finalist for Mr. India Universe how do you feel about it?
Answer: I feel very privileged to have been selected as one of the contestants to represent not just my state but my people as a whole, I’m very much honoured and excited that I’ll be standing in the Grand stage of Mr. India Universe, not to gain fame but to prove that I’m capable of achieving great peaks.
Q. What strategy or approach did you follow while preparing?
Answer: The national stage is really not a joke. A stage known for its glamour, honour, stage filled with privileges, determination and hardwork. As the stage itself, I’m preparing myself by maintaining a healthy diet routine, workout schedules & exercise routines so that I stay in good shape every day, i m also connecting with Friends and family to manage my emotional and mental health. And lastly i engage myself in community works, society campaigns and help my organisation side by side to improve my communication skills, tackling challenges and for stronger presence of mind at same time keeping my mental health active and strong.
Q. Who or what has been your greatest support system throughout your journey?
Answer: It is my honour to answer this question wholeheartedly. Firstly, it is God who has always been so good to me for providing me with all the essentials of life and my most important asset for this competition. My family has been equally providing me with all the necessities that I’m lacking backing me up not just financially but also pushing my mental, emotional, physical well-being keeping me motivated.
“Meraki Entertainment Nagaland”
The organisation that I’m currently serving under the first milestone where I took my first stand as a winner or it be as a Contestant, they have equally contributed supporting me for this journey while providing me with privileges and sponsorships in various ways keeping me motivated and determined.
Q. What was the biggest challenge you faced during your journey and how did you overcome it?
Answer: My journey is yet to begin but I can say that I've really come across many challenges even while preparing for this competition. Firstly, a quote tat remarks my challenge would be.
“Enemies love better than the ones you love”
I have come across hatred, jealousy not from strangers but my own blood related relatives for me it was the biggest challenge because when we expect help, love or support family or relatives are the first thought and I didn’t have that. However, I've overcome it and to answer how? then it would be through my mental positivity, staying positive with the thought to make them proud through works and achievements I earn erasing their hatred against me.
Q. Please take us through your off-camera life what other things keep you occupied in your everyday life?
Answer: I’m a very enthusiastic being following a very busy schedules making myself occupied anytime possible. I wake up early with the thought to be as productive as much as possible or learn a new thing every single day and add up more knowledge to myself. I go to college which keeps me occupied for about the 50% of my day learning, i love eating healthy so as soon as I’m back home I cook myself a healthy meal and get some good rest while reading online articles for instances like revising through my syllabus or clearing out the doubts which I couldn’t during my classes, after that i get ready for my fitness schedules I go to the gym which helps me stay fit and strong not just physically but mentally also!
After the gym I spend 15-20 minutes in a jogging session while going for my musical practice which helps me keep my fat level low or gain any unhealthy fat, I engage in singing and playing musical instruments, staying close to music helps me stay calm, manage stress levels and avoid mood-swings. I also use 10% of my day staying clean and maintain hygiene after all the outdoor activities and share the last meal of the day with family having healthy discussions.
Q. What are the qualities that you believe sets you apart from the other candidates who are competing for the title this year?
Answer: I believe all the contestants are distinctly unique and passionate in their own ways and so am I. The thing that I believe sets me apart from any contestants would be my mental positivity and deduction. I stand with hope and believe even in the darkest pit with positivity, to climb the pit through hardwork and consistency with determination, fully dedicating myself into anything that I engage myself with. Firmly believing in the quote:
“It is only possible see through impossible with the shades of positivity.”
My advocacy is to stand for people facing mental challenges like anxiety, depression and youth stress, which the current generation is going through and is so common yet we are all quiet about it! I want to be the voice that stands for their ‘silent pain’.
Q. What are your hobbies and area of interest?
Answer: I have a-lot of hobbies and areas of interests, so that I can be productive even during my off time periods. I love to engage in sports like basketball, volleyball and football. And personally very passionate about music where i engage in singing, playing musical instruments like Guitar, piano, drums. Socially m a very curious being so I like listening to elderly people’s stories and their part of struggles to learn from them, listening to podcasts where at the least i can make myself productive even while listening. Last but not the least maintaining my body is another great hobby where i go to gym workout and grind myself for better tomorrow.
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