05 December 2023 , 20:09
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A man who was once crowned Italy's 'most handsome man' has decided to ditch his modelling career in favour of joining the priesthood.
Edoardo Santini, 21, was given the title of being the 'most handsome man' in Italy when he won a vote for the honour back in 2019, when he was just 17 years old. The vote was part of the Il Bello d'Italia pageant organised by fashion group ABE, and catapulted the young star into a modelling career which he juggled alongside studying drama and dance.
But over the weekend, Edoardo took to social media to tell his fans he would no longer be pursuing a life of stardom, as he has chosen to walk away from modelling in order to become a priest.
He was voted Italy's most handsome man when he was 17 (INSTAGRAM/_edoardosantini_)
But he'll now be ditching his stardom dreams for his faith (INSTAGRAM/_edoardosantini_)The man claimed in an Instagram post that he had joined a seminary near Florence, and said: "At 21 years old, my father took the decision to marry my mother because she was pregnant and my mum, at 21, became a mother. I, at 21 years old, find myself taking the path to becoming, God willing, a priest.
"In these past years, I've been able to meet people who have shown me what it means to be 'church'. They have given me the strength to investigate this question that I've taken with me from childhood but various fears stopped me from studying it at a deeper level."
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Edoardo - who posts on Instagram under the username @_edoardosantini_ - explained he "took the first step" toward his new goal last year when he started living with two priests, which he also described as the "best experience" of his life. He also said that at the end of last year, he began the "preparatory course", which is the year that comes before life in the seminary.
He added: "At the end of the year it was natural for me to ask the bishop to enter the preparatory course, the year that precedes life in the seminary. And here I am, studying theology and serving two parishes in the Florentine diocese."
The man confirmed he would "put aside" his job as a model, but insisted he wouldn't "abandon" all of his hobbies. He said: "Of course, I won't abandon everything, because they make me who I am. But I will live them in a different context."
Edoardo said he knows people may "speak behind his back" about his decision to become a priest, but he won't let online trolls dissuade him from his goal. He claimed even people in his family have told him he is a "disappointment" over his change of profession, and admitted it "terrifies" him to make such a big life change even though he knows he will not regret it because he can now proudly say: "I am Edoardo, I am 21 years old and I am happy."