Who Is Oliver Eugen Kretz? 5 Things About the Newly Crowned Man of the World 2026

The Philippines just made pageant history! Oliver Eugen Kretz was recently crowned Man of the World 2026, making him the very first Filipino to take home the title since the pageant's inception in 2017. He also won three special awards: Best in Swimwear, Best in Beachwear, and Media's Choice.

With its core message of "masculinity with a responsibility," Man of the World is a major international men's beauty pageant that focuses advocacy and humanitarian causes, and highlights the importance of education, personal growth, and overall career development.

Joining Oliver in the top 5 were Abel Adrian Díaz of Ecuador, Fidel Arellano of Chile, Luis Arturo Jauregi of Mexico, and Afiq Naufal of Malaysia, who were declared as the first runner-up to fourth runner-up, respectively.

1. He is a Libra.

Oliver was born on October 9, 2000, making him 25 years old when he won the crown. He is of Filipino and German descent, and he grew up in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, where he took up Financial Management.

2. He was a working student.

While undergoing his college education at the Palawan State University, the 6'3" model and influencer also worked as a sales executive. He now works as a real estate agent for one of the top developers in the country.

3. He was bullied for being biracial.

Oliver revealed that he was teased a lot growing up. At first, he would ignore his bullies. When he reached high school, he became aware about the harsh nature of reality, which made him stand up for himself more.

4. He is an active person.

An avid gym goer, Oliver shared his body transformation over the years in a Facebook video that recently went viral. In terms of sports, he loves both basketball and boxing, in which he is fan of Manny Pacquiao's hand strength and speed.

5. He advocates for children.

Coming from a broken family, Oliver acknowledged that a lot of children are forced into survival mode and are robbed of their children. Thus, he envisons a future where no child is homeless and for every child to have a future they can call their own.