Picture this: a rising star in the world of pageantry chugging down more than two dozen supplements every single day, all in the name of conquering the high-stakes chaos of an international competition. Kirk Bondad's journey during Mister International 2025 is a testament to the extremes some go to for that edge in performance—and it's got everyone talking. But here's where it gets controversial: is this level of supplementation a smart strategy, or just a risky gamble with health? Let's dive into the details and unpack what made Kirk's routine tick, plus hear from the experts on whether popping pills is really the way to go.
Kirk Bondad, the fresh-faced winner of Mister International 2025 (you can learn more about him here: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/960412/who-is-kirk-bondad-5-things-to-know-about-the-new-mister-international/story/), opened up about a daily ritual that involved consuming over 20 different supplements. This wasn't just a casual habit; it was a meticulously crafted system aimed at battling stress, sustaining energy levels, ensuring radiant skin, and maintaining top physical shape amid the relentless demands of a global pageant.
In a chat with GMA News Online, Kirk described the time-consuming process of organizing his stash—spending at least 10 minutes each morning sifting through capsules and powders crammed into zip-lock bags. 'I think, every single day, it has to be at least 10 minutes for me to dissect the supplements that I had. Because I was taking, like, 20 plus supplements in my pageant routine. I couldn't bring all the containers with me, so I put them all into zip lockers,' he explained.
What drove this intense approach? The pageant environment was brutal, Kirk shared, with severely restricted calorie intake, hardly any sleep, and an ultra-low body fat percentage that made his system hypersensitive to everything ingested. 'When you are so depleted of calories and sleep and you are such in a low body fat percentage, everything that you put in your body is detrimental to your performance, your mood, your energy, your focus. So, you have to be super diligent with really anything that goes between your teeth because you want to perform on a high level, and this is a very high-stress environment.'
And this is the part most people miss: nutrition wasn't limited to supplements alone. Kirk emphasized how crucial real food choices were, particularly for someone prone to skin sensitivities. 'When I eat fried food or anything like seed oil-related or eat a lot of sugar, I break out immediately. So, food-wise, you have to eat well. And that's why supplements help because you take supplements like, for example, turmeric powder as a very anti-inflammatory component to your body, and acne is inflammation on your skin,' he noted. To clarify for beginners, inflammation here refers to the body's natural response to irritation, which can show up as redness or breakouts on the skin—turmeric, a spice often used in cooking, acts like a natural soother in this context.
Kirk's supplement obsession stems from over a decade of self-taught exploration, starting when he was just 14 years old, fueled by a lack of resources. 'I wanted to get the best supplements for the best bang for the buck. So, I was like, OK, I'm not gonna buy some BS supplements just because the marketing and the branding is amazing, right? So, I was just starting to check out blogs, read magazines, and then watch YouTube videos, cross-reference that, and then I got more into research papers,' he said. He grouped his supplements by function: enhancing beauty, aiding sleep and stress relief, boosting brainpower, improving physical output, supporting metabolism, reducing joint issues, and promoting digestive wellness.
'This is a product of me just self-experimenting on myself and self-educating myself on this matter for like the past 15 years or so. So, yeah, that's that. But I don't just take supplements for my looks,' Kirk added, highlighting that they served broader health goals.
Some key players in his arsenal included creatine, which kept him productive and mentally alert even with sleep deprivation; fish oil, prized for its anti-inflammatory effects and its support for concentration, emotional balance, and cell health; and magnesium glycinate, used to ease tension and aid muscle recovery. For those new to this, creatine is a compound that helps muscles produce energy, often associated with athletes, while fish oil comes from fatty fish and is rich in omega-3s—think of it as a natural oil that lubricates your body's systems.
Now, shifting gears to the expert perspective—what does the medical world have to say about all this supplementation frenzy? Dr. Maricar Madridejos Esculto-Khan agrees that supplements can offer real benefits for people with specific nutrient gaps or heightened physical needs, but she's quick to point out they're not a one-size-fits-all solution.
In her Doctor’s Corner piece (check it out here: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/968939/do-you-really-need-to-take-a-supplement/story/), she stresses that the best way to get nutrients is through a balanced, diverse diet. Going overboard with unnecessary supplements might not yield extra perks and could even lead to problems. 'Even if they’re “supplements,” they can still have adverse effects. They could interact with medicines you’re already taking, affect the results of your lab tests, or create new health problems,' she warned. 'Replacing your prescription medication with supplements can threaten instead of saving your life.'
Because of these potential downsides, Dr. Esculto-Khan advises against casual supplementation. She urges everyone to seek medical advice first to determine if a supplement is truly needed, along with guidance on safe amounts and how long to use it.
—CDC, GMA Integrated News
So, is Kirk's approach a brilliant hack for peak performance, or does it underscore the dangers of DIY health experiments? What do you think—should we all be popping pills like this, or is there a safer path? Share your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have your own supplement stories to tell!
