John Joseph from Kerala has been selected as one of the national finalists for the 2026 Mr. India Universe competition. The national finale of the competition is scheduled to take place later this year. At the culmination of the event, the new Mr. India Universe winner will be chosen.
John Joseph is a model, actor and visual media creator from Kerala. Born in Thiruvananthapuram and originally from Kottayam, he is currently based in Bengaluru, where he is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Visual Communication at St. Joseph's University. A trilingual, fluent in English, Malayalam and Hindi, he has developed a multidisciplinary creative skill set that includes acting, photography, videography, video editing, direction, music production using FL Studio, singing and playing the drums. Alongside his creative pursuits, football has played a defining role in his life. He served as the Captain of the Kottayam District Junior Football Team during 2019–2020 and continued competing in youth leagues, university tournaments and club football with The Football Academy of Bangalore, Bengaluru United FC and the St. Joseph's University football team. His sporting achievements also include winning the Reliance Football Championship with St. Joseph's University during the 2023–24 season. In the creative field, he was recognised as the Best Video Editor in the Bangalore Cultural Fest Community (2024–25) and has won multiple fashion competitions as a member of the St. Joseph's University Fashion Team. His professional modelling portfolio includes collaborations with several fashion and lifestyle leading brands.
John's journey has been defined by courage, adaptability and a willingness to embrace change. At the age of sixteen, he left home to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer in Bengaluru, completing his higher secondary education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) while balancing rigorous training and competition. Although football was initially his sole ambition, his growing passion for visual storytelling gradually led him towards photography, videography, editing and eventually modelling and acting. Joining the St. Joseph's University Fashion Team without any prior intention of entering the fashion industry became an unexpected turning point that opened new creative opportunities and expanded his professional horizons. Today, as a contestant on the platform of Mr. India Universe 2026, he continues to pursue his ambition of becoming a recognised supermodel and actor. Driven by creativity, discipline, and perseverance, he hopes to build a career that inspires young people to pursue their dreams with dedication, proving through his own journey that embracing new opportunities and remaining committed to personal growth can lead to extraordinary possibilities.
Mr. India Universe is a national competition for men in India. It is organised by Glamanand Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., the Indian franchise holder of the globally renowned Miss Universe competition. The event is spearheaded by its founder and chairman, Nikhil Anand, and serves as a platform for aspiring male models and personalities from across the country. Following a nationwide audition process, some of India's most talented and promising contestants have been selected to compete in this year's national finale. Before the grand finale, the finalists will undergo an intensive series of grooming and training sessions designed to enhance their confidence, communication skills, personality and stage presence. The contestants will arrive at the finale venue, where they will participate in a schedule of official photoshoots, pre-finale activities, rehearsals and a range of preliminary events leading up to the grand finale. At the culmination of the competition, the reigning Mr. India Universe, Bishan Madappa from Karnataka, will ceremonially relinquish his title and award his successor.
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