Crowds of students cheered on their friends and favorite contestants at the annual Mr. Wyoming pageant last Thursday hosted by the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
The pageant raised awareness and over $6,200 for the Albany County SAFE project, a non-profit organization offering services and assistance to anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking or other forms of violence and victimization. SAFE Project is sponsored by the office of the Attorney General in the division of victim services and remains open thanks to donations from the Laramie community and grants.
All the contestants in the pageant were required to complete bystander intervention training through the SAFE Project in order to participate and represent their respective group.
“Each contestant will be asked one serious question about the bystander intervention training they completed,” said one of the Kappa Kappa Gamma master of ceremonies. Questions varied and contestants were asked to share a statistic that surprised them, how they created spaces of equity or how they would step up as a bystander.
“This is a topic I take very seriously,” said Mr. Sigma Chi, Andrew, the winner of the 2019 Mr. Wyoming title. “Coming from someone who has been discriminated against because of my sexual orientation, I make an effort to be my truest self so that people can see that and be more open minded and considerate of all populations.”
Contestants were also asked some funny questions including what is your spirit animal, what is your favorite Vine video and what is the cheesiest pick-up line you have ever heard.
Each contestant participated in a lip-sync portion of the competition and was judged based on originality of a dance routine, how entertaining they were and overall stage presence. Songs ranged from classics like “Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley to a rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” Others went for a more provocative angle, like one performer who chose“Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira and featured tear-away pants.
The panel of judges for the pageant consisted of members from the University of Wyoming Police Department, the coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life on campus and a SAFE Project coordinator. Scores were tallied for the onstage questions, lip-syncing performances and the formal wear introductions from the beginning of the event.
At the end of the night all the contestants were invited up on stage and titles were awarded. The title of Mr. Moneymaker was awarded to Mr. Lambda Chi Alpha for raising over a $1,000 for the SAFE Project. Mr. Congeniality was voted on by audience members and awarded to Mr. Alpha Gamma Rho, Ian.
“I was so impressed,” said one of the SAFE Project coordinators attending the event. “I love how seriously these boys are taking sexual assault and gender based violence. … It means so much to me to see this huge group of people come together in support of something that means so much to me and should mean so much to all of us.”
