Improvisation wins day at beauty pageant

Caution: Dude Crossing!

Ten male contestants, representing a variety of campus student… Caution: Dude Crossing!

Ten male contestants, representing a variety of campus student organizations, competed Thursday night in Delta Phi Epsilon’s third annual male beauty pageant, “Deepher Dude.”

But in the end, only one went home with the crown.

Jeff Knox, president of the Pitt Pathfinders, took first place after spontaneously singing a Disney song. He walked onstage for the talent portion of the evening with no routine in mind and desperately asked the audience what he should do.

He got only one suggestion: to sing a song from “The Little Mermaid.”

“Part of Your World?” he asked into the microphone.

The audience laughed hysterically as Knox sang the entire song, adding crescendos and ad-libbing instrument imitations.

“I just happened to know the words, so I went for it,” he said afterwards about what he called the deciding factor in his victory.

Contestants are usually required to dress in female clothing when the event is done on a national level, said Ashley Dehner, who planned the event. But these guys had it easier than most “Deepher Dudes.” They modeled their own clothes in GQ fashion.

Mike Reiser wore a county jail shirt and later changed into a gray suit for the formal wear competition. With a large belt buckle advertising his rapper name — BigMyke — and a spark plug necklace, Reiser said, “I know how to look grown and sexy.”

Reiser, from Tau Epsilon Phi, performed Petee Pablo’s “Raise Up,” with his “hype man,” Matt Carr — also known as “Kooking Grease” — by his side.

Music and performance seemed to be a theme throughout the talent section. Leigey sang his favorite childhood song, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Deep Blue Something, and Justin Roberts from Delta Chi played his saxophone. Dan Harris, representing Hillel, and Brendan Lane, from Sigma Alpha Mu, both showed off their guitar skills. Tim Kelly, representing The Pitt News, played a drum solo.

Tom Swogger of Phi Delta Chi told the audience that he had no musical talent. Instead, he demonstrated the Heimlich maneuver with the help of a “Deepher Beauty,” volunteer.

Lane, who participated in last year’s pageant, said that he does not think he will ever win.

“It’s shameful, exploiting these people for their bodies,” he said jokingly of male beauty pageants. Reiser stated that he did not have a problem with male beauty pageants even though he didn’t consider himself to be a “good lookin’ fella.”

“I just show what I am, and maybe there’s some inner beauty in that,” he added.

Knox, wearing the red “Deepher Dude” crown with pride said he loves male beauty pageants now.

“It’s fun and a great way to raise money for a good cause,” he added.

Delta Phi Epsilon thanked the Alcohol Task Force, an organization that encourages students to participate in non-alcoholic activities on popular drinking nights. The event raised money for the sorority’s philanthropy, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Editor’s note: Jeff Knox is a copy editor for The Pitt News.