Laughter, romance and college men were the theme of this year’s Mr. Heartbreaker pageant.
This year, Mr. Heartbreaker was Josh Hamilton, who is a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
“Mr. Heartbreaker was one of the best experiences I have had while I have been at Texas A&M University-Commerce,” Hamilton said.
The male beauty pageant, an annual philanthropy by the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, was held Thursday, Feb. 15 in Ferguson Auditorium.
“Mr. Heartbreaker is our annual philanthropy event which benefits both of our charities,” Nicky Wegrzyn, president of Gamma Phi Beta said. “Our sorority supports both Campfire USA and the American Cancer Society.”
The sorority has been active on campus since March 3, 1962 and donates over $1,000 annually to their charities by hosting fundraising events on campus, Wegrzyn said.
“All of our sorority members are expected to sell at least five tickets to the pageant,” Wegrzyn said. “We also host other events during the semester such as the Moonlight Ball and Sweet Tooth Tuesday to raise money for our charities.”
The 21 contestants were required to compete in three categories: formal wear, casual wear and active or swimsuit wear. The top six contestants then went on to perform a talent for the judges so they could decide who was the winner of the Mr. Heartbreaker title. The winner received not only the title but $100 in cash and a sash as well.
Contestants were also required to show the audience their dance moves and answered questions that showed their personalities.
This year’s pageant was hosted by Tera from 99.5 The Wolf who is radio talent for the “Wake up with the Wolf Show” as well as Gamma Phi Beta alumna. She handed out cash and prizes to those students who showed the most school spirit.
“The judges this year were Gamma Phi Beta alumna, Cindy Ballow, Tyson Kehler, coordinator of facilities for the MRC and Kathy McGraph, director of family housing and the sorority housing,” Wegrzyn said.
The sorority began working on this fundraising effort during the fall semester in order to make sure that everything went smoothly and to get ads for the program.
“The way that we make money for the charities is by putting together a program where merchants can buy ad space and then we hand these out during the pageant,” Wegrzyn said. “We, of course, also donate the proceeds from ticket sales.”
The pageant judges also named Scott Palomino, who is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity as first runner up “in case Mr. Heartbreaker cannot fulfill his duties.”
“It was an honor to recognized as one of the top two heartbreakers at A&M-Commerce,” Palomino said. “I love the ladies so it’s only appropriate!”