By Brittany Wiscombe
A new king will earn a mighty crown Tuesday March 25 at Utah Valley State College during the annual Mr. UVSC pageant.
Water wear, evening wear, talent and creative humor paint the picture of the Mr. UVSC pageant.
'It''s a spoof on the Miss UVSC pageant,' said Matt Eastin, Mr. UVSC 2002. 'It''s for shear entertainment purposes, but deep down each guy wants to be Mr. UVSC. I would be lying if I said there isn''t a sense of seriousness.'
The format of the pageant follows a typical beauty pageant with a few humorous curves.
'The 10 contestants have been practicing the opening number for the last three weeks,' said Bo Jacobsen, Special Events Chair on student government at UVSC. 'We''re going to see a night of surprises.'
Jacobsen sits on a committee that plans the Mr. UVSC pageant. She said this year the committee has chosen a Hawaiian spirit of aloha theme.
'The theme is a casual but fun one,' Jacobsen said. 'The emcees will be wearing flip-flops and Hawaiian shorts. Every audience member will receive a plastic lei as they enter the theater.'
The excitement and creativity of the contestants attract many students to watch this sell-out pageant each year.
'Students coming to watch never know what a treat they are in for,' Jacobsen said. 'Seating is first come first serve. This is one of our biggest events here at UVSC.'
Students witness a talent portion of the competition. Although it is called talent, in most cases judging is based on cleverness and creativity.
'I think the judges want to see someone with the best and newest ideas,' Eastin said. 'It seems it''s almost based on who can make the audience laugh the most.'
Past talents in the pageant have included dressing like and lip-synching to Orphan Annie or roller-skating while signing Abba''s hit 'Sooper Trooper.'
Eastin''s talent last year received many laughs. He edited a video portraying bad luck happening to him, but he always came out on top. This played while he pretended to play the piano and sang, 'You''re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile.'
'The talent portion was my favorite part,' Eastin said. 'I spend a lot of time on the videos I make. It was such a reward to hear an entire audience laugh.'
Mr. UVSC highlights creative talents and spontaneous humor, but some have their own definition of a good time.
'The fact that a couple years ago one contestant threw up goldfish for his talent shows no one is taking this too seriously,' Eastin said.
In addition to a talent portion, the audience also enjoys evening and water wear. In evening wear contestants come out in anything from pajamas and slippers to bellbottoms and Afro wigs.
In water wear contestants model anything from goggles and swim trunks or nothing but a towel.
'I wanted to do something a little different with the water wear portion,' Eastin said. 'I came sliding out on a slip''n slide. I had to rub Crisco all over my body in order for this to work. It was a great time.'
The contestants this year said they are excited to dazzle the audience with their personalities.
'I''m only wearing flippers and a kiddy pool,' said Robb Juhlin, contestant in the pageant. 'Oh yes, this will show off my Herculean Physique.'
But the excitement of Mr. UVSC does not end after the pageant comes to a close. The winner works with student government throughout the year and participates in many school events.
'I was able to be in a couple parades this summer,' Eastin said. 'I met many new people and the 300 dollars I got for winning the pageant was a nice bonus too.'
The Mr. UVSC pageant begins at 7 p.m., Tuesday, in the Ragan Theater. Tickets are $5 at the door.
'The new king needs to have great interaction with the audience, make them laugh and have school pride,' Jacobsen said. 'It''s going to be upbeat and a night full of nonstop laughs.'