Cross dressers raise money for Dance Marathon

The Dance Marathon committee hosted a cross dressing pageant in order to raise money for the Medical College of Georgia's Children's Hospital on Jan. 20.

"I thought this event went well considering it was early in the semester," said junior business management major and the emcee for the pageant Blake Leaphart. "We raised enough money to help out the kids at MCG, so I'm pretty pleased with the turnout of this event."

Contestants were judged on criteria such as formal wear, casual wear, best makeup, best gender convincing costume and best personality in regards to stage presence and the crowd's reaction. To fit the theme of the competition, contestants created their own opposite sex identities and personalities. The judges for the pageant were Sam and Lacey Filkins and Rusty Caldwell.

"I really liked this event. This is my first time seeing it and my first year working here," said Lacey Filkins, an admissions counselor and one of the judges. "It was hilarious, and I thought it was for a good cause."

Participants in the pageant were Andrew Ciserano aka Ms. Franchesca Lingerie, a junior marketing major representing Tau Kappa Epsilon; Will Clark aka Ms. Ieata Marshmellow, a freshman engineering major representing the Student Government Association; Timothy Jackson aka Ms. Dixie Normas, a junior graphic design major representing Tau Kappa Epsilon; Jacob Busbee aka Ms. Twilight, a junior graphic design major representing Tau Kappa Epsilon; Trey Jarosz aka Ms. Kitty Purry, a senior business marketing and management major representing Lambda Chi Alpha; Heather Button aka Mr. Leon, a sophomore exercise sports science major representing Phi Mu; and Sequoia Frazier aka Mr. Sean Frazier, a junior political science major representing the Student Government Association.

"This event was hilarious. I was laughing the whole time," said junior graphic design major Nick Thompson. "It was well put together. I thought it was a great way to raise money for the organizations on campus and for Dance Marathon."

After all of the contestants strutted their stuff and gave insight on their personalities, the judges determined the winners. The Miss Cross Dress Pageant winner was Andrew Ciserano. First and second runners-up were Timothy Jackson. and Jacob Busbee. For the Mr. Cross Dress Pageant, Sequia Frazier placed first, and Heather button was first runner-up.

"It feels great to have won this competition," said Ciserano. "I'm glad all of my friends came out to support me."