Popular Cambodian beauty pageant Miss and Mister Majestic has been getting a lot of attention after photos of its “ordinary-looking” participants went viral on social media.

The winner of Mister Majestic 2025 will represent Cambodia in the Mister Universe international beauty pageant, but the contest has created a lot of buzz online due to the questionable looks of some participants. Last month, organizers released the introductory photos of the 17 male participants selected to take part in the competition to become Mister Majestic, and, judging by the feedback on Cambodian social media, they were not what people were expecting. It’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but many people complained that most of the guys competing for the title of Mister Majestic looked ordinary, and some of them had sub-standard looks.

Viral photos posted on the Miss and Mister Majestic beauty pageant back in February featured the contestants posing topless with their bodies covered in oil and gold glitter. Only what was supposed to be a sexy photo shoot inspired all sorts of hilarious comments about the contestants’ looks. And, while we’re not in the position to judge others’ physical appearances, we can say that they didn’t look like your typical mister contestants.

To top it all off, this month, Cambodian media reported that the man who stands to win the title of Mister Majestic this year, Lai Thai, has a clear eye defect caused by strabismus. Despite his obvious physical defect, he has garnered the most votes so far, he has appeared in the sponsor’s advertising photos, and he stands to represent Cambodia at the International Mister Universe pageant.

Hitting back against critics, Miss and Mister Majestic clarified that the event not only honors physical beauty but also focuses on the talent and confidence of the contestants.

Photos of Mister Majestic’s candidates have gone viral on multiple social networks and have transcended Cambodia’s borders. Vietnamese media recently covered the contest, focusing mainly on the questionable looks of the participants.