From displaying Laufey albums, handing out free tampons and giving a “Pride and Prejudice” book CPR, baggy-clothed students performed at WKU’s first-ever performative male contest and period protest.

The event took place in Centennial Mall at 2 p.m. Saturday. Performative male contests have swept college campuses and major cities following an online trend.

Joshua Riffle, a freshman social media marketing major, organized the event. Riffle posted a promotional flyer and video to Yik Yak and the WKU 2029 Snapchat story early Friday morning. He shouted to a Centennial Mall audience with a megaphone, leading the competition.

The contest was originally set for 1:30 p.m., but was delayed to 2p.m. for rain concerns.

Each competitor spoke in turn, worshipping women and boasting thrifted outfits and music taste. The audience picked the top three competitors by cheering for their favorite performative males.

Emma Tomes, a freshman elementary education major, was among the top three, and was the only woman competing. She wore a baggy shirt, jean shorts and headphones around her neck.

“I was going to come dressed up as a full man and try to get away with the disguise and then reveal it at the end,” Tomes said.

Tomes didn’t disguise herself, but her regular appearance ended up working in her favor.

Another finalist competitor, Killian Reck, a freshman mechanical engineering major, held his fist between two pieces of bread on a paper plate. An attached note read, “Hey period cramps, I made you a sandwich.” Reck dropped out of the competition after reaching the finals, saying that women should win over men.

“I was literally going to cry happy tears whenever Killian dropped out,” Tomes said. “I literally was wiping tears because it was funny and it was so heartwarming.”

Tomes won the contest over nine other performative male competitors. In doing so, she broke the standard definition of performative male, which is loosely defined by the behaviors and appearance exhibited by some men.

“I would say it’s men who want to cater to women, but whenever it comes down to it, they just don’t,” Tomes said. “If you see a performative male, just know you’re gonna get manipulated. But it’ll be so fun because they are really funny and they have a lot in common with you, because they try to be a girl.”

“A facade,” Kegan Powers, a freshman secondary education major and competitor, said.

The performative male competitors emulated the role to the fullest, before and during the competition.

“We are all underneath the glass ceiling,” Landon Patton said.

Patton finaled and arrived first at the event. Patton wore a large painted sign that read “No menstruation without representation,” on one side and “No mo’ flow,” on the other.

“It’s not a trend, it’s a lifestyle,” Keaton Garrison, a sophomore biochemistry major, said. “I mean, I’ve been listening to Laufey since I’ve come out of the womb.”

“When I was born, the doctor looked at my mom and said, ‘Oh, it’s a boy.’ And I wept,” Reck said.

Riffle initiated a call and response multiple times to the audience and a passing tour group.

“Who do we love?”

“Women!”

“What do we hate?”

“Periods!”