For Joselli Rojas, the world of fashion and pageantry wasn’t something he stumbled into; it was a calling that found him early on. At just 15 years old, while growing up in the Philippines, Rojas was scouted to model. Within a short time, he found himself traveling across Europe, representing the couture creations of iconic Filipino designer Aureo Alonso. For a teenager still figuring out who he was, it was a whirlwind introduction to the transformative power of beauty, confidence, and storytelling through fashion.
When he returned to the Philippines, his modeling career continued to unfold, landing advertising campaigns and even receiving an offer to pursue acting in Australia. At one point, he competed in a local male pageant called Body Shots. He didn’t walk away with the crown, but he did walk away with clarity: this world was where he belonged. Modeling and pageantry weren’t just hobbies; they were passions.
However, like many dreamers, Rojas faced the age-old dilemma of personal ambition versus familial expectations. His family urged him to leave modeling behind and join the family business. He listened, at least for a time, putting aside the world of lights and runways for something more traditional. That decision eventually led him to the United States in pursuit of the American dream, where he took on various jobs, many of them in the healthcare field, to make ends meet.
Still, something inside him refused to settle. His love for pageantry and modeling never disappeared; it simply waited for the right moment to return.
That moment arrived when he was invited to take over the franchise and become the National Director of Manhunt International USA in 2022. It felt like a sign, a second chance to reconnect with his passion on his own terms.
“The journey wasn’t always smooth,” Rojas reflects, “But I knew in my heart that this was where I was meant to be. Not as a model or contestant, but as someone who discovers and nurtures talent, like polishing rough stones into sparkling gems.”
From that mission, The Authority Productions (TAP) was born, a company built on the belief that potential is everywhere if you’re willing to see it. Today, TAP has become a launchpad for aspiring models and pageant contestants from across the globe.
Blake Johnston (USA) – Mister Cosmopolitan 2023
Rojas scouts talent in many ways: chance encounters in public, online searches, and referrals from international affiliate agencies. While physical qualities like height, bone structure, and photogenic features might open the door, character determines who stays.
“I conduct interviews and really get to know where they’re at emotionally and mentally. The right person needs more than just a look. They need self-confidence, social skills, perseverance, and the drive to reach their goals,” he explains.
Many of Rojas’ winners are also signed with TAMM Agency, meaning after their reigns, they return under his guidance to build lasting careers.
Dereck Gimenes (Brazil) – Man of the Year 2023
“I don’t just prepare them to win, I take care of them long after the crown,” Rojas said. “In many other parts of the world, pageantry is a cultural phenomenon, a respected, celebrated platform that opens doors to endorsements, television, film, and other professional opportunities. In the U.S., the interest in becoming a model far outweighs the interest in pageantry. I want to change that perception. International contests are followed like the Olympics in some countries. It’s an honorable pursuit, and far from being just about beauty.”
To prove his point, he lists the household names who began in pageants like Diane Sawyer, Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, Martha Stewart, Michelle Pfeiffer, Lynda Carter, Oprah Winfrey, Gal Gadot, and Olivia Culpo, to name a few. For him, it’s evidence that pageantry can be a powerful springboard to success.
Joao Emiliao (Brazil) – Great Man of the Universe 2023
And his own track record backs it up. In just three years, The Authority Productions has produced five international male pageant winners:
Blake Johnston (USA) – Mister Cosmopolitan 2023
Dereck Gimenes (Brazil) – Man of the Year 2023
Joao Emiliao (Brazil) – Great Man of the Universe 2023
Juul Missiean (Spain) – Man of the World 2025
Adonis Renaud (France) – Manhunt International 2025
Beyond the winners, TAP candidates have claimed impressive placements: Elijah Van Zantem (USA) – 2nd Runner-Up, Manhunt International 2022; Patryky Henrique (Brazil) – 1st Runner-Up, Mister Cosmopolitan 2024; Vincenzo Melisi (Italy) – 4th Runner-Up, Manhunt International 2024; Marcel Ignacio (Switzerland) – 7th Runner-Up, Manhunt International 2024; Matheo Portrucher (France) – 3rd Runner-Up, Man of the Year 2024; and Leonardo Casteldo (Italy) – Top 10 Finalist, Mister International 2024
Juul Missiean (Spain) – Man of the World 2025
While TAP represents both male and female talent holding national franchises for Miss Earth, Miss International, and Miss Aura, it first found its niche in male pageantry. Not from lack of ambition, but because breaking into the female pageant world at a national level is, as Rojas describes, “like navigating a complex machine with many simultaneously moving parts.” His early male titleholder successes laid the foundation, proving his eye for talent and skill in developing it.
Adonis Renaud (France) – Manhunt International 2025
“There’s a misconception that pageantry and modeling are superficial or easy,” Rojas says. “But just like any profession, it demands hard work, sacrifice, and a high level of professionalism.”
Winning a pageant, he explains, is like running a sprint. Contestants have only a short window to excel in every category: appearance, personality, intelligence, charisma, likability, and wit. Success as a model, however, is a marathon built on consistency, creativity, and reliability. But to Rojas, crowns and contracts are only part of the story. What he’s building is a legacy, one grounded in empathy, vision, and the belief that success should be within reach for anyone willing to work for it.
