Erik Thornally (“Temptation Island” alum) chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about repping Oregon in the 2025 Mister USA competition.
The late but great Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” This quote applies to Erik Thornally, 28.
Mister USA competition
Mister USA is an American beauty pageant, which is held annually, and the winner goes on to represent the United States in the Mister Universe competition. It is a celebration of culture, diversity, beauty, intelligence and empowerment. They believe in the power of young leaders to make a difference in the world. It is not solely about outer beauty; it recognizes the inner beauty and intelligence of their contestants.
On being a part of the 2025 Mister USA, Thornally said, “It’s an amazing feeling! It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced before. In all honesty, I haven’t done a pageant, or a bodybuilding show before, which is the closest hobby or passion that I have towards this. In a weird way, I have been preparing a long time for an opportunity like this.”
“I take good care of myself, and outside of the gym I have done an incredible amount of work for myself too,” he noted. “So, it is really exciting to be able to present all of that; not just the bodybuilding or me in a suit… I want to showcase the whole comprehensive package.”
“I am really proud to share more of my story because for most of my life, I’ve been on a very difficult path with health and fitness, as well as entrepreneurship.”
“As an entrepreneur, I started some small businesses and most of them failed,” he admitted. “I like going through the adversity; it’s inspiring to men across the country and across the world.”
“So, I am happy to present more of myself for people to hopefully follow a similar path and just make the best versions of themselves because that’s what I have been trying to do for myself for over a decade now, but it hasn’t always been easy,” he explained.
Representing Oregon
On representing Oregon, he said, “I am very happy to have a state, and a group of people to directly represent. Beyond the borders of a state, I represent young men across the country and hopefully, around the world regardless of what state they are in.”
“My story doesn’t just apply to people on the West Coast,” he acknowledged. “I think it’s universal. When I step on this Mister USA stage and look at all these contestants, I am not going to be looking at people to see where they came from or what they represent; it’s more about who they are, and their entire journey.”
“So, while it is great to have a title associated with a specific place (Oregon), I am also excited to reach even more people beyond the boundaries of a state,” he added.
Advocacy for Mister USA
For Thornally, this year’s Mister USA pageant is all about “embracing adversity,” and the theme of becoming the best version of yourself. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve learned so many life lessons through the gym. What I’ve learned about businesses and relationships, so much of that translates into lessons that I’ve experienced firsthand in the gym.”
“In my own development of maturity, I’ve mastered the gym,” he admitted. “When people come up to me in the gym and ask me how they can get bigger or how they can lose weight, I know exactly what to tell them, and it feels amazing for me to contribute back and to help out people.”
“As I develop and mature, I know that I like giving back and contributing to people who I used to be when I was younger. It’s amazing to have a ‘big brother’ figure or a strong, masculine role model to be supporting you on your journey because I know how difficult it is to do that solo,” he elaborated.
Why he should win Mister USA
When asked why he should win Mister USA, he responded, “Winning this competition would represent a lot of the men who weren’t always born into this perfect life. I don’t come from money, I don’t come from being a goodlooking, musical man my whole life; it is quite the opposite. My story of building myself up through embracing adversity would resonate with the vast majority of men around the world.”
“I want to share more of my losses and my failures because are the more impactful experiences that have made me into who I am today, and I am very proud of that,” he acknowledged.
“I’m here to represent the underdogs… the guys that have had to work for everything,” he added.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he revealed, “Foot on the gas.” “I’m accelerating right now,” he admitted. “I am pushing myself harder now than ever before.”
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, he remarked, “For me, success equates to happiness, and that is going to look different for everybody. For me, happiness is having freedom of time, health, and the ability to spend my time with people and environments that make me happy.”
Closing thoughts on Mister USA
Thornally expressed, “I hope to inspire people to embrace who they are. Don’t complain about being short or not good looking enough, just be happy and content with what you have. Do everything you can to optimize the things that you can control such as your fitness, the way you look, and how you present yourself, your charisma and social skills… these are the things that you have control over 100 percent.”
“As long as you believe in yourself and you know what you are doing, that’s the most important thing. Also, embrace adversity and do it with a smile,” he reiterated.
To learn more about Erik Thornally, follow him on Instagram.
