Constantine Condos sat down and chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about representing Greece in the 2026 Mister Universe pageant.
Greek philosopher Aristotle once said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” This quote applies to Greek-American Constantine Condos, 20, who is competing in this year’s Mister Universe competition.
The Mister Universe Organization (MUO) is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions. It creates and provides a safe space for men to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically. The men who participate in this international platform serve as inspirational leaders and role models to their communities and fans around the world.
The 2026 Mister Universe pageant will be held in Los Angeles, California, from November 22 to 29, 2026.
Constantine on representing Greece
On repping Greece, he remarked, “It feels great. I feel honored that I was selected to compete and represent Greece, and I am honored to represent my generation. I feel like there is a variety of ages that I’m competing against, and I am one of the younger guys competing.”
“I have a lot to bring at my age, and want to make sure people understand that age isn’t necessarily a factor when it comes to knowledge and experience,” he admitted.
“It feels amazing to be representing Greece,” he exclaimed. “Honestly, I’m honored. Coming from my background and growing up with the Greek Olympics, I’ve always been inspired by the competition and by the way our ancestors competed. The Greeks were warriors, the Spartans were warriors, and they represented some of the best in the world.”
“I feel like I’m bringing that mentality with me into a new-age competition. I feel like I’m representing my community and my people very well by carrying that mentality with me and letting it translate into the physical,” he added.
Constantine on his Greek heritage
Regarding his Greek heritage, he shared, “I am a Spartan, and part of my family is from Galaxidi. I’ve always felt very connected to that heritage. I grew up living near the beach in New Jersey, and the first time I went to Greece was to meet my family in Galaxidi and all of my cousins.”
‘”It was incredible to experience the different lifestyle that Greece offers, especially for young people, when it comes to relationships, religion, and the importance of working together as a community,” he noted.'”It was incredible to experience the different lifestyle that Greece offers, especially for young people, when it comes to relationships, religion, and the importance of working together as a community,” he noted.
“Here in America, things can be very individualistic. You are not necessarily working with your family or running a family business. It’s more about working for yourself and going to school. It was very humbling to experience the heart of Greece and bring that mentality back here in order to explain to people the importance of community, church, and religion,” he observed.
“In some places, things can feel very superficial. People want to make sure they look their best, their house looks the best, and they’re wearing the nicest watch. In Greece, we don’t really care what our house looks like. Our churches are beautiful, and that’s what is important,” he underscored.
“That is something I think is important to explain to people who may not have the same cultural background that Greeks have. I feel like it’s very different from other cultures, but it’s also incredibly strong because of how long the culture has existed and how it has remained consistent over time,” he said.
“It hasn’t become Americanized or completely changed with the times. Things such as going to church, dressing properly, fasting, and participating in traditions all contribute to what makes Greeks who they are as individuals. When you put us next to someone who isn’t Greek, it’s like, ‘Wow, we do a lot of little things that make us who we are as people.’ That carries over into our work, our physical lives, and everything else,” he explained.
Constantine on being a model and entrepreneur
On being a model and entrepreneur, he said, “That is one of my proudest accomplishments, as well as one of my defining characteristics.”
“When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I was very confused about what it meant to be an entrepreneur and what it meant to be a successful entrepreneur. You can fail over and over again, but it’s really just a process of learning,” he noted.
“It takes being humbled and being able to work independently without relying on a system or another person to steer you in the right direction. It’s all on you. It’s a one-on-one battle with yourself mentally every day… discipline, consistency, repetition, and making sure you’re staying in a clear state of mind,” he elaborated.
“As an entrepreneur, you’re really only in competition with yourself. There is nobody telling you what to do. It’s all about yourself. It is you versus yourself, and how much you’re willing to push yourself is going to show in the results, whether that’s profit, sales, or whatever you are trying to accomplish,” he noted.
“Looking toward the future, I want to take everything I’ve learned and the person I’ve become and instill that into other entrepreneurs who are just starting out… people who are confused about where they want to go in life. I want to help people bring purpose to their presence, so that whatever they’re doing has meaning. For me, I would love to create opportunities for other people,” he acknowledged.
“I started my clothing company, but now I have the opportunity to give people a chance to model. I can give people opportunities to design and to find their passion. Someone might say, ‘Yeah, I love clothes. I love fashion, but I never figured out where my purpose fits into the bigger picture.’ The more I create as an entrepreneur, the more opportunities I can create for other people,” he enthused.
“That’s my biggest goal. I want to win with my people. I don’t want to be the boss; I want to be a leader. I want to have my people around me, all making money, all healthy, all happy, and all sharing the same attributes and values that I hold close to me, backed by a strong work ethic,” he added.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he responded, “I like to describe this chapter of my life as being like a teapot. God has me right now on a simmer. My water hasn’t started boiling yet. I do a lot of journaling to keep track of where I am mentally and to position myself for new opportunities.”
“Right now, I’m on the back burner. That’s where I am in this chapter. God has me on the back burner, keeping me warm enough and in the right space, keeping me accountable,” he noted.
For the future, I’ve been planning and calculating with such upcoming opportunities as Mister Universe, upcoming runway opportunities, and opportunities for myself and my brand. I am ready,” he exclaimed.
“Right now, God is introducing these opportunities to me so that, with the proper preparation and calculations, I can take advantage of them and really excel. God has me on a simmer. He has me on the back burner. Then comes the next chapter, and that’s when I’m boiling. That’s when everything starts coming together and people start seeing the work I’ve been putting in,” he elaborated.
Success
Regarding his definition of success, he said, “Success, to me, isn’t only about finances. Obviously, when you close a deal in sales and make money, that’s a form of success. What I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is that success is more about fulfillment.”
“It’s about the fulfillment of what I’m doing for myself, as well as for the person I’m doing it for. Whether it’s a service or a sale, I want to make sure that when I sell a product or an experience, the person remembers how they felt. They harness that energy. That’s what a successful transaction means to me,” he elaborated.
“If somebody is happy at the end because I helped them get to where they wanted to be, then I feel successful. If I helped someone have the night of their life on a yacht or helped make an experience possible, that was a successful trip,” he noted.
“The same goes for personal training. If somebody I coached is paying me, that’s great, but I don’t actually get fulfillment from being paid. I get fulfillment from watching that person lose weight, become happy, and get into the best shape of their life. Fulfillment is what success means to me,” he explained.
Greek-American community in the U.S.
Constantine shared his thoughts on the Greek-American community in the United States. “I feel like the Greek community here in America is truly like no other,” he underscored.
“Greeks have such an in-tune perspective on how to incorporate religion into our daily lives as Greek Orthodox Christians. It teaches us how to position ourselves and understand whether or not we’re in the right place in life and whether we’re surrounding ourselves with the right people,” he noted.
“America has created so many opportunities for Greek Americans through organizations like GOYA, and that’s an important part of so many Greek Americans’ lives. It introduces people to new experiences and opens so many doors,” he said.
“I went to Ionian Village in Greece, and that was one of the best experiences of my life because I met other Greek kids from across America… from California, Texas, Miami, and everywhere in between. I met people from all around the country who shared similar beliefs and values. These were people I could really build a foundation with, whether in business, friendship, or family,” he elaborated.
“When I speak to other people who go to church or attend Sunday school, they don’t necessarily have the same type of community or the same kind of relationship with one another that Greeks have. The Greek-American community truly is like no other,” he added.
Favorite Greek food
When asked about his favorite Greek food, Constantine responded, “I’m going to have to go with spanakopita. 100 percent. My mom and my aunt make some of the best spanakopita I’ve ever had.”
Message for his fans
For his fans, Constantine said, “I would like to say that there is no difference between me and them when it comes to where they are and where they want to be. The person they are today and the person they want to be in 10 years are still the same person. The difference is the experiences and perspective they gain along the way. Your greatest asset is yourself. It’s your mind. It’s how much you’re willing to invest in yourself.”
“The more you invest in yourself, the more you learn. You will fail, and you will fail forward as an entrepreneur and as an individual, but you are only going to learn more about yourself. You are going to find more purpose in your presence, and you’ll be able to teach people, help others, and encourage them to find their own creativity and purpose. It all comes full circle,” he elaborated.
Closing thoughts on Mister Universe
Constantine remarked, “I want people to understand that there is no perfect way to start something. There is no specific starting line. Start messy. Start scared. Start posting the content you’re afraid to post, because there’s somebody on the other side who is going to see it, and you’re going to impact them. Whether somebody sees me on a stage or sees me on Instagram, they see me, they see what I represent, and they see what I stand for.”
“They can acknowledge how to incorporate those things into their own lives. I’m using myself as an outlet and a representation of what is possible for everybody else on the other side of the street,” he concluded.
To learn more about Constantine Condos, follow him on Instagram.
