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 Manhunt International is an International Male Model Search for the next MALE SUPERMODEL, 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 w ...

World Final. He was the national title holder of Manhunt Australia during 2007 and was also the face of Australian swimwear label

Funky Trunks Way Funky Company Pty Ltd (or Way Funky) 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 a ...

from 2004 to 2010. Barnett, commonly known by his nickname ''Barney'', is also recognised for his appearances on Australian television,

Network Nine The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...

1 vs. 100 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...

in 2007 and

Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

's eighth series of Australia's Big Brother

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

show in 2008. Earlier in 2008, Barnett was named as one of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

'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.

Early life and family

Craig Barnett was born in

East Fremantle East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

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 Melville Senior High School is a Government school, public co-educational high school located in Melville, Western Australia, Melville, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Opened in 1960, as of 2021 the school had an enrolment of 1,399 students ...

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 Skateboarding is an extreme sport, action sport originating in the United States that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry Profession, job, and a ...

sponsorship between the ages of 14 and 16 and also became involved in competitive

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

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 Swimming (sport), Swimming has been a sport at every modern Summer Olympics. It has been open to women since 1912 Summer Olympics, 1912. At the Olympics, swimming has the second-highest number of medal-contested events (after Athletics at the Summ ...

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. 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.

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.The Sunday Times, 19 November 2006. Page 13. 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.

Manhunt International

In February 2007, he represented

in the largest contested and most prestigious international male modelling competition in the world at the time, the

Manhunt International 2007 Manhunt International is an International Male Model Search for the next MALE SUPERMODEL, 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 w ...

World Final, held at the six star ''Kangwon Land Casino Resort'', in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

, 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 } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Barnett is one of only three Australians ever to finish in the top five since the Manhunt International competition began in 1993.

Modelling

Modelling career

While competing at the

Australian Swimming Swimming Australia is the peak governing body for competitive swimming in Australia. The body has approximately 100,000 registered members nationally in 1100 clubs across the country, which includes swimmers, coaches, officials, administrators ...

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

Selection Trials for the

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

, 2004 Olympic Games, Barnett was approached by rising

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

based swimwear company ''Way Funky'' to model their men's label,

, 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. 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; Tourism Victoria's Yarra Valley campaign in April 2011; Bosch Automotive in September 2011; 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". 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 Hawaiian Tropic is an American brand of suntan lotion. Hawaiian Tropic was founded by Ron Rice in 1969. Rice became the largest private manufacturer of sun care products in the United States, until Hawaiian Tropic was acquired by Playtex Produ ...

2009 national finals.

Film and television

1 vs. 100

Barnett was a contestant on the

television game show

, hosted by

Eddie McGuire Edward Joseph McGuire AM (born 29 October 1964) is an Australian television presenter, journalist and Australian Football League commentator. He is also an occasional ''Herald Sun'' newspaper columnist. He hosts Channel Nine’s Millionaire ...

, 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

reality television show

Big Brother Australia 2008 ''Big Brother Australia 2008'' or ''Big Brother 8'' was the eighth season of the Australian reality television show '' Big Brother'' and was the final season to air on Network Ten. The eighth season launched on 28 April 2008. A total 20 housemat ...

. He entered the Big Brother house, which was located inside the Dreamworld amusement park in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, on Sunday 4 May 2008 under his nickname ''Barney''.

Television commercials

Barnett has also made appearances in Australian television commercials, which include the

Volvo The Volvo Group ( sv, Volvokoncernen; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distributio ...

"Attention Seeker" TVC, televised to a global audience until 2012., 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 A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

"That Season Again" performed Australian country music singer, Rose Carleo, directed by Twinpeak Image. "That Season Again" peaked on the Country Tracks Top 30 national radio chart at #3. 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.

Radio

Prior to, and during, the 2004

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 ship A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usu ...

ping and still remains involved. He currently resides in

, Australia. He is also a member of the North Cottesloe

Surf Life Saving Club Surf Life Saving Clubs (or SLSCs) are volunteer institutions at Australia's beaches.{{cite news, last1=Moody, first1=Sherele, title=Surf Life Saving Australia: Safety at the beach isn't cheap, url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/Being-sa ...

Notes

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 Masters Swimming Association Australia
WebCite query result

External links

Manhunt International Official Website

Funky Trunks Swimwear
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnett, Craig 1974 births Living people Big Brother (Australian TV series) contestants People from Fremantle Australian male swimmers Models from Perth, Western Australia Swimming commentators Australian sports broadcasters People from Melbourne Male beauty pageant winners