Mr Manhunt Ja Omario Wright sets sights on global crown
Published:Friday | February 13, 2026 | 12:05 AMNicola Cunningham/Entertainment Coordinator
When Omario Wright went to sign up for the Mr Manhunt Jamaica competition, he was told that if he was serious, he first needed to cut his hair. In that moment, he knew that applying meant that he was committed to the entire process and there was no turning back. Armed with confidence and some past experience, Wright became a contestant in the competition and went on to win the title.
The 29-year-old trained chef told Living that he was first encouraged to enter by a photographer who recognised his potential. “He said that there was a competition [that] he thought I would be a perfect fit for. So I said, let me go ahead and enter because I’ve modelled before and I wanted to get back in it.”
Wright, who has a small catering company, JayFoodLabs, has always managed to stand out in most things and even with his food, he has made a name for himself as a baker of pies, which are not your typical Jamaican desserts. “I did American pies but adjusted the recipes as I found them way too sweet, so I started making my own Jamaican recipe with way less sugar and way more flavour. I began making more Jamaican-type pies like otaheite apple, and they have been getting great feedback.”
A former track star from Gregory Park in Portmore, Wright and his four siblings were raised by a single mother who, what she didn’t have in money, made up for in love and values. Greater Portmore High School, he added, broadened his mindset and moulded him into the man he would become.
FAST-PACED COMPETITION
The hurricane in October fast-tracked practically everything between November and January for Mr Manhunt Jamaica, from rehearsals and photoshoots to social media presence and the grand pageant, which took place at the Portmore Town Centre in St Catherine. “When they first called my name as the winner, I was like, ‘Did I really just win this?’ It felt like I was in a dream initially until I was getting the sash, etc. I was like, ‘Yes, all my hard work paid off with me dieting, cutting my hair, exercising, doing my skin care [regimen], staying out of the sun, being more engaging on social media, etc.’ It all worked, so I felt fulfilled.”
The journey was not without its challenges, as Wright stands 5 feet 10 inches. Additionally, being a male model in a society that promotes rugged masculinity has not been easy. “There were a lot of outside voices and detractors who did not understand the world of male modelling and would always come with their negativity, so the stigma of being a male model is real. However, this is not new for me, and those who knew me had my back.”
Having won the local Manhunt competition, Wright will move on to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the international competition, and because last year’s Jamaican representative was the second runner-up out of 38 nations, he knows he has some big shoes to fill. Luckily, he is up for the task. “I have dreams of walking in Milan and Egypt. As a black man, I want to show the young men around me that it is possible. That if they work hard, stay focused and ignore negativity, it can be done. I want to pave the way for all of them.”