The Undergraduate Student Government presented the first annual Mr. and Miss Ohio State Pageant in the Ohio Union Sunday.
Fourteen contestants competed to raise money for their charity of choice by showcasing their individual talents.
Before being chosen for the event each contestant had to send in a video showing their buckeye spirit. The videos were shown and were comical from “stuff buckeyes” say to one contestant showing her spirit by jumping in mirror lake.
To compete in the pageant, each contestant was required to raise a minimum of $200. About 100 students, family members and donors, who helped the contestants raise money, attended the pageant to cheer on their favorite contestant.
“I came to this event to cheer on my friend Shaon Shamsul, and I think this event is a good way to raise awareness and money for different charities,” said Candice Michel, a third-year in speech and hearing science.
Students could vote online to pick which contestants they wanted to see compete in the pageant.
The contestants showcased their talents: playing the piano and ukulele, signing, rapping, singing opera, doing martial arts, tap dancing and designing vinyl.
Three judges sat before the contestants as the performed: Miss Ohio 2011, Ellen Bryan, Matt Couch, the director of student activities and orientation for student life, and Barb Kefalas, associate director for university residence and dining services.
After showcasing their talents, each contestant told the audience a little more about their organization of choice and what it would mean for them to win.
After the Q-and-A round, the judges announced the pageant winners were Cayla Hellwarth and Shamsul.
Miss OSU pageant winner, Hellwarth, a third-year majoring in marketing and international business, won the pageant with her opera singing and passion for her nonprofit organization, the American Red Cross.
“It is awesome to be able to raise money for the Red Cross and to be able to represent OSU,” Hellwarth said.
Mr. OSU pageant winner, Shamsul, a second-year in communication, sang and played the piano for his talent.
Shamsul said he chose to raise money for AIDS United because he feels that more awareness is needed for AIDS and HIV.
“It means everything to win, and I think the organization will be proud of the money I have raised,” Shamsul said.
According to USG member Kerry Keys both winners were awarded 66 percent of what each group raised together. The men raised $1,061 and the women raised $2,871.05.
Hellwarth won $1,894.89 for the Red Cross and Shamsul won $700.26 for AIDS United.
Keys said the event was a success and USG is planning to present the event again.
“We thought we could make this event a new tradition, and we are glad it turned out to be successful,” Keys said.