Students, friends and family were lined up waiting to see six male contestants battle for the Mr. Blue and Gold crown in Downing University Center Auditorium Thursday night. 

Mr. Blue and Gold is a male pageant hosted by Sigma Gamma Rho Inc. This is the second year for the pageant.

Clarksville, Tenn. junior Symkia Carter, vice president of Sigma Gamma Rho Inc., thanked everyone for coming out and talked about why they hosted a male pageant.

“Most pageants are for women,” she said. “We wanted to show that men too have grace.”

She said the pageant is in memory of her sorority sister, who died in a car crash a few days ago.

“She pushed the hat to get this started a year ago,” she said. “Now we’re going to start doing this every year in her memory.”

Carter introduced the six contestants: Vincent Taylor, Miles Morton, Ernest Simmons, Sean Watson, DeGerald Watson-Morton and Trae McFarland.

The contestants then came out and recited Bible verses while telling a little bit themselves. Contestants had four scenes throughout the night.

The first scene was a beach scene where contestants walked the runway with their beach attire, while dancing with the girls on stage.

The talent scene included talents ranging from playing the electric guitar, DJ mixing, interpretative dance, spoken word and singing.

Taylor won the talent competition, singing a gospel medley that got the audience singing along with him.

For the formal scene, the contestants came out dressed in suits with their escorts, whether it was their girlfriend, mother or other relative.

Last year’s winner, Darien Green, took his last walk as Mr. Blue and Gold.

“It’s been my honor and my privilege to be a part of this pageant,” he said. “I hope whoever wins carries the title with dignity and pride.”

Miles Morton won this year’s Mr. Blue and Gold pageant.

“Thanks everyone for showing up and showing out,” he said. “If you’re not involved, get involved!”

Denver, Colo. junior Elicia Tillis said she expected Morton to win.

“After that speech, I knew he’d win; it was empowering,” she said. “It was very nice and it’s great they’re doing pageants for guys.”

Paducah freshman Ariel Robinson said the pageant was really good and Carter put a lot of work into it.

Robinson said she wasn’t expecting Morton to win, but “it was anybody’s game, honestly.”

Other awards that were given included Mr. Congeniality to Sean Watson, the scholarship award, for highest GPA which went to second runner up DeGerald Watson-Morton and an award for perseverance and first runner up, which went to Ernest Simmons.