Spread the Net

TELL US YOUR STORY

Story from Tyson from James M. Hill Memorial High School, Miramichi, N.B., wrote;

"JMH students help fight malaria with unique school beauty pageant" by Wendy Patterson - Miramichi Leader

"It started as a dream ..." said the introductory video presentation on Wednesday night as 18 young contestants prepared to take the stage at James M. Hill Memorial High School. "A dream to be a star ..."

The contestants had been preparing for the pageant for weeks, tanning, choosing their dresses, practising their talents, shaving their legs. They picked out the perfect shoes, had their hair and makeup done, and, teetering perhaps a just a little uncertainly in their new high heels, stepped up in front of their schoolmates to in hopes of being named the first-ever MissTer JMH.

And the ladies in the audience went wild — for this was a different kind of beauty pageant, one that required some of the school's most manly men to get in touch with their feminine side.

Every contestant in this pageant had a Y chromosome ... but you would never know it to look at them.

The "ladies" made their first appearance in white undershirts and cut-off jeans before donning rain ponchos to dance to "It's Raining Men."

Then it was time for evening gowns and the introduction of the contestants, who listed interests that ranged from shopping and doing their nails to "rhythmic gymnastics" and reciting Star Wars quotations — and, of course, world peace.

As the band belted out "Dude Looks Like a Lady," official judges Bo Quann, Mark Noel and Kim Corlett narrowed down the list of contestants to a top 10 who would present their talents after intermission.

Contestants hugged each other and squealed gleefully as the names were announced.

The talents of the top 10 turned out to be as unique as their interests. From dance numbers to karaoke, cheerleading to drumming, to a walk around the world, every performance brought deafening applause and peals of laughter from the audience in the packed auditorium.

Afterwards the band played "Foxy Lady" as the judges pondered who to pick as the top five.

The five finalists then had to answer questions drawn by Corlett.

"What celebrity would you invite to a dinner party?" she asked John Blakely.

"Chuck Norris," he answered. "Because I hear his kick is flamin'. I wouldn't have to cook the turkey. He'd just kick and it would be ready."

James Butler was asked which famous personality he felt he most resembled.

"I'd have to say Chewbacca," he said. "I'm tall, I have a lot of body hair, and I'm always there for Harrison Ford when he needs me."

While the judges conferred once more, MCs Thomas Duplessie and Nicole Daley asked what the contestants would do if they won the title of MissTer JMH.

"I would try to bring the world together. For world peace."

"I'll probably go 'Oh-my-God, oh-my-God, oh-my-God!'"

"Uh, I'll probably go to Burger King ..."

Finally the big moment arrived and the winners were announced amid cheering from the audience and squeals from the contestants.

Peter Daley took fifth place, John Blakely fourth, Tyler Galliah third and Jordan Shanahan second.

James Butler was crowned the first-ever MissTer JMH.

His fellow students presented him with a tiara, a bouquet of flowers and a new TV.

Tyson Theriault's World Issues Class created the pageant as a fundraiser for a program called Spread the Net, which provides bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria in Third World countries. Students made presentations about the program and malaria statistics during the show.

All told, the pageant resulted in $2,732 being raised — enough to purchase almost 300 nets to keep malaria-spreading mosquitos away from children.

James M. Hill vice-principal John Hawkes said he was very pleased with the event and the turnout.

"To think, we may impact on 270 people — save their lives," he said. "And it's a fun night, too. 

« Back