Craig Barnett

Last updated

Craig Barnett
Born
Craig Andrew Barnett

(1974-07-16) 16 July 1974 (age 48)
Other namesBarney
Alma mater Melville Senior High School
Occupation
  • Model
  • swimmer
  • shipping officer
  • surf lifesaver
Years active2004–present
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)

Craig Andrew Barnett (born 16 July 1974) is an Australian model and former international modelling pageant finalist, best known as "Mr Australia 2007" at the 2007 Manhunt International World Final. He was the national title holder of Manhunt Australia during 2007 and was also the face of Australian swimwear label Funky Trunks from 2004 to 2010. [1]

Contents

Barnett, commonly known by his nickname Barney, is also recognised for his appearances on Australian television, Network Nine's 1 vs. 100 in 2007 and Network Ten's eighth series of Australia's Big Brother reality television show in 2008. Earlier in 2008, Barnett was named as one of Australia's most eligible bachelors when selected as a finalist in Cleo Bachelor of the Year and featured in the March 2008 edition of Cleo Magazine. [2] [3]

Early life and family

Craig Barnett was born in East Fremantle, Western Australia and was raised in the suburb of Kardinya. He has two older sisters.

Barnett attended Kardinya Primary School and later went to Melville Senior High School in Western Australia. He excelled in athletics as a junior, equalling an Australian age record for the U/13 80m hurdles. He picked up an amateur skateboarding sponsorship between the ages of 14 and 16 and also became involved in competitive swimming at the age of 16.

He graduated from high school in 1991 and was awarded an outstanding sporting achievement award, recognising his sporting contribution, which included winning the athletics champion boy and swimming champion boy in his final year, only eight months after taking up competitive swimming.

Barnett went on to swim competitively at a national level for over thirteen years, which included three Australian Olympic Swimming Selection Trials. He was club captain at the Applecross Swimming Club during the 1991/1992 season, and held several sprint freestyle and butterfly club records, some of which still stand today. [4] He was also the City of Perth Swimming Club Captain during the 2003/2004 season and retired from national level swimming shortly after in 2005. He held the Victorian state short course record for the 50m Butterfly in the 35-39-year age division of the Masters Swimming Association, from 2010 to 2016. [5]

Manhunt

Manhunt Australia

Barnett was the winner of the national male modelling competition Manhunt Australia in November 2006 which earned him the title of MR Australia throughout 2007. [6] [7] Contestants were judged on physique, photographic (photogenic qualities and the ability to work with photographers), interviewing and public speaking skills, and catwalk modelling ability. He later featured on the front cover of the Men of Manhunt calendar in 2008. [8]

Manhunt International

In February 2007, he represented Australia in the largest contested and most prestigious international male modelling competition in the world at the time, the Manhunt International 2007 World Final, held at the six star Kangwon Land Casino Resort, in South Korea, where he competed against a record 48 contestants from as many countries. There, he finished 3rd Runner-up and walked away with cash and prizes including a modelling contract in Beijing, China. Barnett is one of only three Australians ever to finish in the top five since the Manhunt International competition began in 1993. [9]

Modelling

Modelling career

While competing at the Australian Swimming Olympic Selection Trials for the Athens, 2004 Olympic Games, Barnett was approached by rising Melbourne based swimwear company Way Funky to model their men's label, Funky Trunks, [1] and was the face of the label from 2004 to 2010. This led to other modelling offers and sparked an invitation to compete in the 2006 Manhunt Australia competition in which he won the national title the same year. [7] [10]

Since 2004, Barnett has featured in many Funky Trunks advertising campaigns and commercials, as well as other well established fashion labels and product advertising. These include the Zu Shoes "Presidential Collection" campaign, released in December 2010; [11] Tourism Victoria's Yarra Valley campaign in April 2011; Bosch Automotive in September 2011; [12] The Como Hotel Melbourne 2012; Palace Cinemas 2013, Vic Roads 2014, and Tourism Australia campaign in 2014.

In 2009, Barnett featured on a deck of playing cards wearing Funky Trunks, which were issued as a limited edition promotional offer with Funky Trunks purchases.

He appeared on the CD single covers for "Perfect Strangers" and "Hot Lovin'", written by Drew Heinemann and performed by Daniel McGahan and Natt Dunn in 2011.

In 2017, Barnett's image was used on a Funky Trunks print known as the "Gun Show". [13]

In 2019, an image of Barnett stylishly dressed seated in a private jet was used in an app created by OMG Game Internet Company on Facebook, where users generate a prediction of their "life in the next 5 years", showing images of extravagant lifestyles.

Judging

Due to his success on a national and international level in modelling pageants, Barnett has been a guest judge at several Australian national beauty and modelling contests, including Best Model Australia 2007, Manhunt Australia 2007 and Miss Hawaiian Tropic 2009 national finals.

Film and television

1 vs. 100

Barnett was a contestant on the Network Nine television game show 1 vs. 100, hosted by Eddie McGuire, which aired on 9 July 2007. He was the "1" against the "Mob" of 100 challengers. He was the sixth highest money winner in the history of the 1 vs. 100 (Australian game show), walking away with $108,500.00.

Big Brother 08

Barnett appeared in the Australian series of the Network Ten reality television show Big Brother Australia 2008. He entered the Big Brother house, which was located inside the Dreamworld amusement park in Queensland, on Sunday 4 May 2008 under his nickname Barney. [14]

Television commercials

Barnett has also made appearances in Australian television commercials, which include the Volvo "Attention Seeker" TVC, televised to a global audience until 2012., [15] Target TVC March 2012, Bike Exchange 2012, iiNet 2013, Funky Trunks Underwear 2013, Holden Storm 2015, and 5digitalquotes.com.au 2015.

Music videos

In December 2010, Barnett featured in the music video "That Season Again" performed Australian country music singer, Rose Carleo, directed by Twinpeak Image. [16] "That Season Again" peaked on the Country Tracks Top 30 national radio chart at #3. [17]

Barnett also co-starred in the 2011 music video, "Say It's Over" performed by Australian pop singer songwriter, Tania Moran, released in April 2011 by Dusk Music Video Production. [18]

Radio

Prior to, and during, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Barnett was a guest speaker on radio station Radio Fremantle 107.9 FM as a swimming expert due to his vast knowledge of the sport and his inside information on several Australian Swimming Team members.

Other

Barnett spent much of his adult life working in the field of cargo shipping and still remains involved. He currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. He is also a member of the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club in Western Australia.

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Way Funky Company | Funky Trunks, Funkita, Kiargo | Australian Swimwear". Wayfunky.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. staff writers (18 February 2008). "Cleo's 50 hotties offer brains and brawn". News.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. "Cleo announces Top 50 Bachelors of 2008 | Adelaide Now". Archived from the original on 23 February 2012.
  4. "SSSC: Home". southshore.swimming.org.au.
  5. MSA Portal © 2004-2014 by Frank Braun (17 July 2010). "Masters Swimming Australia - Records - MSA Portal © 2004-2014 by Frank Braun". Portal.aussi.org.au. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  6. "Model manhunt ends in Perth | Perth Now". Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  7. 1 2 The Sunday Times, 19 November 2006. Page 13.
  8. "Procon Leisure International". Proconleisure.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  9. [Usurped!]
  10. Northern Territory News, Monday, 13 November 2006. Page 3.
  11. "ZU Shoes Online | Shop for Ladies & Men's Shoes Online". Zushoe.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  12. "Bosch in Australia | Bosch Australia". Bosch.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  13. "FUNKY TRUNKS GUN SHOW". funkytrunks.com.
  14. "WA lifesaver to swamp Big Brother". PerthNow. 2 May 2008.
  15. "Volvo "Attention seeker" TVC". YouTube. 1 August 2010. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  16. "That Season Again - Rose Carleo.Flv". YouTube. 18 December 2010. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  17. "Official Site | Store". Rose Carleo. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  18. "Say It's Over - Tania Moran". YouTube. 25 April 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2014.

Related Research Articles

Big Day Out Former music festival in Australia and New Zealand

The Big Day Out (BDO) was an annual music festival that was held in five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Auckland, New Zealand. The festival was held during summer, typically in January of each year but was sometimes held as late as early February in some cities including Perth.

Swimsuit Clothing worn for swimming

A swimsuit is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, diving and surfing, or sun-orientated activities, such as sun bathing. Different types may be worn by men, women, and children. A swimsuit can be described by various names, some of which are used only in particular locations, including swimwear, bathing suit, swimming costume, bathing costume, swimming suit, swimmers, swimming togs, bathers, cossie, or swimming trunks for men, besides others.

Speedo International Limited is a distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories based in Nottingham, England, known for their swim briefs. They have roots in Australia but are no longer manufactured in Australia. Founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1914 by Alexander MacRae, a Scottish emigrant, the industry-leading company is now a subsidiary of the British Pentland Group. Today, the Speedo brand can be found on products ranging from swimsuits and goggles to wristwatches. The Speedo brand was previously manufactured for and marketed in North America as Speedo USA by PVH under an exclusive perpetual licence, who acquired prior licensee Warnaco Group in 2013. As of January 2020, the Pentland Group purchased back the rights from PVH for $170 million in cash subject to regulatory approval.

Karl Kruszelnicki Australian science communicator

Karl Sven Woytek Sas Konkovitch Matthew Kruszelnicki, often referred to as "Dr Karl", is an Australian science communicator and populariser, who is known as an author and a science commentator on Australian radio and television.

Subiaco Oval was a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia, located in the suburb of Subiaco. It was opened in 1908 and closed in 2017 after the completion of the new Perth Stadium in Burswood.

Rip Curl Australian surfing apparel and equipment company

Rip Curl is a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear and accompanying products, and a major athletic sponsor. Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia, Europe, South America, North America and South Africa. Globally, Rip Curl is considered a successful member of the "Big Three", of the surf industry alongside Quiksilver and Billabong.As of October 2019, Michael Daly is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Rip Curl Group.

Competitive swimwear Swimsuit, clothing, equipment and accessories used in the aquatic competitive sports

Competitive swimwear refers to the swimsuit, clothing, equipment, and accessories used in the aquatic sports of swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, triathlon, and water polo.

Colin Barnett Former Western Australian politician

Colin James Barnett is a former Australian politician who was the 29th Premier of Western Australia. He concurrently served as the state's Treasurer at several points during his tenure and had previously held various other portfolios in Western Australia's Court–Cowan Ministry.

Megan Gale Australian model and actress

Megan Kate Gale is an Australian model and actress. Born in Perth, Western Australia, Gale won a modelling competition at 18 in her home town. In 1999, she was cast in a series of advertisements for the Italian branch of telecommunications company Vodafone. This led to wide exposure in both Italy and Gale's native Australia, and Gale appeared in their advertising until 2006. Gale has also appeared in Italian movies and television shows. As an actress, Gale played Fatma in The Water Diviner (2014) and Valkyrie in George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

Manhunt International Male beauty contest, international male pageant competition

Manhunt International is an international male beauty pageant which began in 1993, though the roots of the pageant go back a few years more to when one single national preliminary was held in Singapore. The pageant was conceived by Metromedia Singapore and Procon Leisure International.

Crown Perth Resort and casino in Burswood, Western Australia

Crown Perth is a resort and casino located in Burswood, Western Australia, near the Swan River. The resort consists of a casino, a convention centre with meeting rooms, theatre and two ballrooms along with 32 restaurants and bars, a nightclub and recreational facilities. It also features three hotels: the 405-room Crown Metropol Perth, the 291-room Crown Promenade Perth and the 500-room luxury hotel Crown Towers Perth, which was opened in December 2016.

Geoff Huegill Australian swimmer

Geoffrey Andrew Huegill is an Australian swimmer and dual Olympian who won seventy-two international medals, including two medals in Olympics and six world champion titles, throughout his career. He held eight world records, including 50 metres butterfly.

Trinity College, Perth School in East Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Trinity College is an independent day school for boys, located on the Swan River foreshore in East Perth, Western Australia. The school was established in 1962 when students from the city schools CBC Perth and St Patrick's Boys School moved to the new Trinity College campus.

Lara Worthington

Lara Worthington is an Australian model and media personality. She is known for appearing in the 2006 Tourism Australia advertising campaign So where the bloody hell are you? Her own reality television series, Being Lara Bingle, premiered on Network Ten in June 2012, ending after one season.

Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Helicopter rescue service in Australia

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service is a helicopter surf lifesaving service that operates in Australia.

Perth College (Western Australia) School in Mount Lawley, Western Australia, Australia

Perth College is an independent Anglican day and boarding school for girls located in Mount Lawley, an inner northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. The school maintains a non-selective enrolment policy and currently has approximately 1,000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12, including 110 boarders from Year 7 onwards.

The club was founded in 1903 and the movement has since spread to other parts of New South Wales and the rest of the country. The club rests on indigenous land and whilst there is no clear evidence for the name or names of the Eora people who lived in what is now the Waverley area, most sources agree on the Cadigal, but some sources name the Biddigal and Birrabirragal bands as well.

Way Funky Company Pty Ltd is an Australian swimwear apparel manufacturing company based in Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 2002 by Duncan McLean, and specializes in colorful chlorine resistant sports swimwear. The company also produces competitive swimwear approved by FINA.

Aerochute International Pty. Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer founded in 1989 by Stephen Conte and based in Coburg North, Victoria. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of powered parachutes in the form of kits for amateur construction for the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category. The aircraft are also approved by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) is a privately owned, registered training organisation, and the largest fitness training organisation in Australia. Beginning operations as the Health Studio Attendants course in Perth in 1979, the Institute became Australia's first national fitness training provider in 2000, with the merger of five state-based fitness training programs.

References

Northern Territory News, Monday, 13 November 2006. Page 3.

Perth Now (2006-11-17). Model manhunt ends in Perth Model manhunt ends in Perth | Perth Now

The Sunday Times, 19 November 2006. Page 13.

Procon Leisure (2007-01-10). Craig Barnett wins Manhunt Australia title Procon Leisure Australia Pty Ltd

Procon Leisure (2007-02-14) Manhunt World Final Korea Procon Leisure Australia Pty Ltd

Manhunt International (2007-02-14) Manhunt International 2007 Winners MANHUNT INTERNATIONAL

Procon Leisure (2007-02-14). Procon Models Score in the Top 5 Procon Leisure Australia Pty Ltd

News.com.au (2008-02-18) CLEO Bachelor of the Year 2008 Cleo's 50 hotties offer brains and brawn

Adelaide Now (2008-02-18) Cleo announces Top 50 Bachelors of 2008

Procon Leisure (2008-05-05) Manhut Mr Australia Craig 'Barney' Barnett into Big Brother Procon Leisure Australia Pty Ltd

Perth Now (2008-05-02) Hunky Perth model and lifesaver to swamp Big Brother WA lifesaver to swamp Big Brother

Big Brother Chaos (2009-01-05) Big Brother Australia Housemates Big Brother Chaos | Main / WhereNow

Pageantopolis Manhunt International [Usurped!]

Masters Swimming Association Australia: WebCite query result