He’s got beauty, he’s got grace – and he’s also got the title of Mr. Friendship Universe 2025.
Meet Philippe Laurin. He’s not only the first to represent Canada at the Mister Universe International beauty pageant, he’s also the first openly neurodivergent contestant to snatch the win against fellow contestants from over 40 nations across the globe.
“Ever since I was a little boy watching Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss Venezuela, Miss France with my grandmother, I always dreamed of the possibility of entering a universal pageant, and the opportunity showed up, and I jumped on it,” said Laurin.
“All my fellow Mr. Universe International brothers were there clapping, and they were so happy for me to win. I can get emotional about that, but it meant so much to me.
“Not only was it an honour to be the first Canadian contestant at Mr. Universe International, but I’m very proud of the fact that I, as someone who is a neurodivergent — and those of you who are neurodivergent know that doing interpersonal social connections with people for us can sometimes be a challenge — went to represent our nation, and my neurodivergent family.”
In the world of pageants, often with strict and demanding requirements, Laurin’s natural talent on stage not only set him apart but revealed something deeper: unwavering perseverance in the face of life’s hurdles.
“In my case, my brain just works differently. I’m a visual learner. I’m also… coordination can be sometimes a problem and sleep, if I don’t get, can be… can really butcher everything. But I knew what I signed up for; I prepared myself mentally for some of the challenges ahead, and yeah, I just went for it,” said Laurin.
Philippe Laurin with his crown and sash after winning the tile of Mr. Friendship Universe International 2025 where he competed against 40 other contestants in Panama this past November. (Corinne Boyer, CityNews)
Laurin isn’t the only one breaking barriers this year, as he joins fellow contestant and newly crowned Miss Universe Fatima Bosch, from Mexico, who has also openly discussed living with dyslexia and ADHD, and breaking the stigma associated with neurodiversity.
“I also find it amazing that I have so much in common with Fatima Bosch, our reigning Miss Universe, who is Latina like me, who could be in a universal pageant like me, but also like me is openly neurodivergent, proving to my wonderful neurodivergent family and everyone out there who are neurodivergent that we can be king and queens if we really want it.”
