Tim Rose 'Most Beautiful Man'

Yu Shing Ting photo
Tim Rose won this year’s Most Beautiful Man contest, presented by designers Takeo and Eric Chandler of 2Couture. Ladies, you should see his abs!

Tim Rose, a University of Hawaii student, was named the winner of Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Man contest, which took place Sept. 11 at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall as part of the 8th annual Woman Expo.

I was one of the judges who had the difficult task of selecting the winners. Of course, it took more than a pretty face and build. Women also look for personality and a modicum of intelligence, whether in real life or on the runway.

Of course, I think I speak for all the judges when I say I would have appreciated fewer cougar jokes and its predatory implications (why can’t two people just love each other and call it that?), but when it was over, those left standing next to Rose were:

1st runnerup: Hoku Garza, who impressed with his fire dancer’s physique, talent and personality.

2nd runnerup: Zac Twogood, a professional model who used his charm to his advantage.

3rd runnerup: Karlos Olsen, an actor who knows how to bring a runway to life.

4th runnerup: Nick Duarte, a university student who used smarts to get ahead.

Judges were able to meet all the contestants before formal judging, for casual interviews. I asked one bodybuilder the secret to losing a few pounds in a hurry, and he suggested dropping simple carbs. Ironically, I couldn’t stay for the finale because I had to run over to Aloha Tower to judge the Rice Festival’s rice-ipe contest, which entailed ingesting simple carbs, and more!

2Couture photos
Eric Chandler interviews contestant Cameron Brooks Spangler.

Karlos Olsen shows his walk in an aloha shirt and denim.

The winners, in leis, from left, Hoku Garza, Tim Rose, Karlos Olsen, Nick Duarte and Zac Twogood.

Nadine Kam photos
Those who wandered through the expo had the chance to enjoy services such as $7 haircuts by downtown Honolulu’s Hawaii Institute of Hair Design.

There were also opportunities to receive complimentary massages from several practitioners, such as Healthcare and Sports Massage Therapy of Kaneohe, above, and the newly open Laka Spa at 320 Ward Ave.