Teo Yu Hao beat all odds to become the Manhunt champion this year.
Amidst cheering and camera flashes at the central podium of The Heeren, Teo Yu Hao, 21, a Nanyang Technological University undergraduate, strutted his way to glory as he emerged as the champion of Manhunt Singapore 2009.
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Teo was a surprise win — he was, in fact, a replacement for a contestant who withdrew at the eleventh hour. But despite the odds, Teo smiled and strided his way into the judges’ hearts and clinched the sought-after title. He will be participating in Manhunt International held in South Korea, later in August this year.
“I didn’t participate to win; I just wanted the experience,” Teo told City News matter-of-factly. This statement is no surprise to many of his close friends, who describe him as “unassuming and an extremely nice guy”.
From his evenly tanned body and his sinewy physique, one can safely conclude that Teo is a lover of sports. Basketball, marathon running, and soccer were ones of the many that he eagerly participated since he was in secondary school. “He is really a superb (soccer) player,” comments members of his soccer team, De Royale.
Teo is a seasoned pageant participator and Prom King during his junior college days.
What may surprise many is the fact that Teo is also a trained Chinese opera singer, who made his debut performance when he was only 15. He is very family-oriented and places high importance on filial piety; he is constantly stereotyped as the “very good boy” among his peers. His portrayal depicts the quintessence of any girl’s Mr Right: Teo Yu Hao, the tall, dark, handsome, sensitive family man.
When asked what his motivation in life was, Teo shared a shocking near-death experience he had during his national service. Teo was an officer and a naval diver, and during one of his routine training sessions, he fainted while running and was left unconscious for three hours. He later found out from the doctors that he had suffered a heat stroke and almost lost his life. Teo states, “I have become more determined than ever to live life to the fullest! I can’t waste my talents and skills… I have to use them for the glory of God!”
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| PHOTOS: Daniel Poh and Wayne Tan |
Good looks are a gift Teo uses well. His ardent fans would tell you that it is his million-dollar smile that melted the hearts of everyone present, in every competition he has taken part in.
This confirms his motto in life, “Smile, for it makes the world go round!”
