Cabellero Universal, the international men's beauty pageant held in Venezuela every year, may not be a title familiar to many in India, let alone Kerala. It's considered one of the most prestigious events organised to select the perfect man on earth. What makes it grand is the fact that many of the best men in the world vie for the title. The event tests traits like confidence, strength, charm, chivalry, social commitment, environmental consciousness, among others. Nonetheless, when Anantha Krishna, 26, a youth hailing from Kundara in Kollam district, became the second runner-up, it created a buzz in the world of fashion and showbiz in India.

As many as 24 countries participated in the final round of Cabellero Universal 2025 competition held in Caracas, Venezuela, from October 1 to 11. "It's a long, drawn-out fiesta where contests in various disciplines are conducted to judge a man's talent and personality. Unlike men's other contests, which take into account masculine features, this competition vets quotients of trustworthiness, benevolence, supportive nature, interactive skills, cultural inclination, traditional values, love of nature, among others," says. "The competition also looks at how confidently one puts across his or her opinion." Perhaps, it's this camaraderie, elegance and charm that earned him the Best Interactive title as well. In a place where the medium of communication was mostly Spanish, Anatha Krishna cruised through the sea of people and broke into a conversation with anyone he came across at the venue.

After the school at Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Kollam and obtaining a post-graduate degree from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, he worked with an IT Company in Chennai. It was during those years he forayed into the fashion world and showbiz contests. "It was during those days, Rubaru Mr India, one of the most significant beauty contests for men in India, came my way, and I was fortunate enough to win the title, Cabellero Universal India there," says Anantha Krishna, who won the title competing with around twenty thousand participants, which carved his path to Caracas. One of the most celebrated men's pageants in the country Rubaru Mr India moulds men with a host of talents and virtues. He had previously won 'The Face of Kanyakumari' and 'Man of Tamil Nadu' titles as well.

In the main round, held at Hotel Pestana, Anantha appeared in a Vishal Thawani design on the ramp. The Dapper and Dare ensemble featured Anantha Krishna in a Sherwani and pyjama coupled with an Indian jacket specially crafted from ethically sourced sea shells and soft, breathable Khadi cotton. It reflected harmony between nature and human hands. "Every stitch, every curve honours sustainability - built with reusable and repairable elements to reduce waste and protect what sustains us. The message was to safeguard marine ecosystems, preserve nature’s treasures, and honour the deep bond between humanity and the sea," he says. He had also won the Best Walk title among the ancillary contests.

He was asked three questions in the final round, and to the question, as to what Universal Consciousness meant to him, he answered, "It means that everything in the universe, including humans, animals, nature, is connected through one shared awareness". Meanwhile, to the question as to why he wanted to be the next Caballero Universal, he alluded to the quote of Mahatma Gandhi, 'Be the change that you want to see in the world.' Thirdly, when he was asked what was country's tourist attraction, his answer was, Varanasi Ghats, where life meets eternity.

At the competitions, Franco Daniel Cova from Venezuela was the winner of the Caballero Universal 2025 title, and Israel Jesus of Brazil was the Vice Caballero. Luca Scandolara of Italy was 1st runner-up, besides India's Anantha Krishna being the 2nd runner-up. Also, Marnny Lampa of the Philippines was adjudged 3rd runner-up and Peru's Luis Fernandez Davila the 4th runner-up.

Currently engaged in promotional activities, Anantha Krishna is an aspiring actor. He is the son of Dr R Rajendran, former Joint Director of National Centre for Disease Control's wing in Chertala and Dr D Sheeladevi, former Head of the Department of Zoology, Mannam Memorial NSS College, Kottiyam. His elder brother Murali Krishna is a manager at Federal Bank in Kochi.

"Being Caballero Universal, to me, means being human enough to care, wise enough to act, and humble enough to learn from every soul I meet. I wish to serve the world - with compassion, purpose, and unity," says Anantha Krishna on winning the title.