Mister Switzerland studies business and likes wine
A student of economics has been elected Mister Switzerland by a panel of experts and the country's television viewers.
Miguel San Juan is the first winner from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, where the current Miss Switzerland also comes from.
The 27-year old from the village of Grolley, outside Fribourg, beat off competition from 15 other candidates to take the title of most handsome Swiss citizen.
The prize is worth several tens of thousands of Swiss francs.
He was elected on Saturday during a popular evening show in Chiasso in southern Switzerland.
The event was broadcast live on all three main public television channels – in German, French and Italian.
San Juan, a student at Fribourg University, is 1.90 metres and weighs 80kg. He said his goal in life was to have a family and work for a non-profit organisation.
He described himself as a timid person who likes wine and plays handball in his spare time.
Miss Switzerland
San Juan succeeds the outgoing Mister Switzerland, Renzo Blumenthal, a farmer from the majority German-speaking part of the country.
The reigning Miss Switzerland, Lauriane Gilliéron, was elected by a television audience last autumn for a one-year term.
She is also from French-speaking western Switzerland. Her successor will be elected in Geneva in September.
In a separate event during Saturday’s show the television audience awarded ice skating world champion Stéphane Lambiel the title of most handsome Swiss sportsman.
swissinfo with agencies
Annual Mister Switzerland contests have been organised since 1994 and are based on similar competitions for female candidates.
Candidates must have Swiss nationality and have no criminal record. They have to be single, at least 20 years of age and 1.78m.
Mister Switzerland is elected by a panel of five experts from the world of entertainment and television viewers.
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