Octoblog

It's an auspicious day, my dears, and I thought we all deserve a little eye candy. Meet Mr. Mohamed el Bably, who apparently ranks among "8 of Egypt's Top Male Models, at least according to online rag CairoScene.

Beefcake Update #1

Since yesterday may have been just a bit of a downer, I thought today we'd launch the first of a few Important Updates in the lives of some of our Café regulars.

Since last we met, of course, Egypt has had (as Eleanor of Acquitaine once observed of her own family, at least in The Lion in Winter) its little ups and downs, and at some point I suppose we will have to have a chat about all that.

In the meantime, though, there have been some triumphs and trials - and, it must be admitted, some setbacks - in the career of dear Mr. Tarek Naguib, last seen waxing Tribbianiesque (here, I'm happy to see that he has, by all appearances, cut down on the waxing, up to a point). In March 2010, he traveled halfway 'round the world to Incheon, South Korea, to vie for the coveted Mr. World title.

But alas, it was not to be. The dear boy only made the top 20, and has since retreated to a Nileside career in modeling and the occasional music video.

But all is not lost - if only because, while carrying out the necessary rigorous research that has gone into uncovering all this, I've just now encountered...someone new. Gentle readers, let me introduce you to one Mohammed Al Maiman, of whom more, I suspect, anon:

Back in 2010, he was Tarek's competition and vanquisher, as he went on to finish as 2nd runner up. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind running up against him any time. I suspect we'll be running into him again hereabouts, with any luck at all...

Heavage 2.0: How You Doin'?

Dear Mr. Tarek Naguib - deprived, it seems, of his chance to shine at the Café's favorite handsomeness pageant, the long-postponed Manhunt International - instead looks ready here for his audition for the Egyptian version of Friends. In addition to his other many talents, it turns out, Tarek does a mean Joey Tribbiani...

Serpent of Old Nile

Well, kids, the bad news is that the Café's favorite handsomeness pageant, the fabulous Manhunt International, appears to be on indefinite hold for the moment, ostensibly, according to its homepage, because of H1N1-related concerns on behalf of this year's host government, South Korea.

The good news is that thinking about this august annual event gives me an excuse, however tenuous, to run a photo of the rather exquisite onetime Mr. Egypt, Tarek Naguib. He's seen here rising from the Nile. Which, from what I remember of the Nile, may not be the world's most salubrious idea, although he certainly makes it look pleasant...

Boy Meets (Mr.) World

There is still, alas, no word about the 2009 iteration of the Café's favorite handsomeness pageant, Mr. Manhunt International, but almost offsetting that gloomy news is the exciting news that dear Mr. Tarek Naguib, Mr. Egypt, isn't about to let a little setback like that get him down.

No indeed; the delectable Mr. Naguib - seen here resplendent in resort wear, lounging Nileside - is reportedly an inside favorite for the 2010 hustings of the venerable Mr. World title. I think that's a hopeful note for Egypt and for a waiting world, don't you?

That's Mr. Egypt to You

Egypt's leading contender for world recognition in handsomeness pageants, the delectable Mr. Tarek Naguib, is sadly no more immune than his Bollywood counterparts to Questionable Fashion Choices.

This little ensemble raises two questions: how much larger would the wristwatch have to be before it actually affected his balance? And: would the outfit have looked more or less silly with the necktie tied (which brings up one more question: is that shirt actually cut so that it's physically possible to bring the top buttons together?)?

According to pageantcentric blog the beauty mania® (with its arguable tagline "everybody is born beautiful…™" - have they seen the Indonesian Mega Baby?), Tarek may be ditching the Manhunt franchise (still no word on this year's iteration, alas) to make a run at Mr. World. We wish him luck - and better stylists. With the raw material he's got, I think they should opt for a "less is more®™" philosophy, don't you?

Beautiful by the Sea

Here we find Mr. Manhunt Egypt Tarek Naguib lounging on one of his homeland's spectacular shores, looking rather spectacular himself.

Word on the street (if not on the seashore) is that the long-awaited Mr. Manhunt International 2009 will now be held sometime this month in sunny Seoul, South Korea. One hopes that the seemingly rather casual management of this esteemed annual event doesn't portend poorly for the Parade of Nations...

Going on a Manhunt

You will remember, perhaps, that I recently took note of the fact that this year's edition of that landmark on all of our social calendars, Mr. Manhunt International 2009, is set to take place this month. I have to say, though, that I'm getting worried - no venue announced yet? How are we to make our travel plans in time?

Also of concern is the apparent lack of a candidate from Egypt. Last year, it seems contestant Tarek Naguib proved unable to travel.

Which, you'll have to admit, really is rather a shame.

He definitely has a certain something. To paraphrase what dear Miss Dorothy Parker once observed of Clara Bow, "It? He has those!"

Sadly, he remains, all his attributes aside, a minimal web presence. We will do our best to keep looking, though, both for more Naguib and for news of this year's festivities. I'm just jonesing for that costume parade...