RUMFORD – The Rumford Eagles Auxiliary will host its eighth annual All Male Beauty Pageant at 8 p.m. April 12, with local men raising money for charities by dressing in women’s casual and evening wear and displaying their talents.

Former auxiliary member Marcia Surette, who is chairman of this year’s pageant, said doors will open at 7 p.m., with the pageant beginning at 8 p.m. There will be a $5 cover charge per person, with all proceeds benefiting local charities.

“We try to keep it as local as possible,” Surette said. “In past years, for instance, we’ve sent money to the Hope Association, or the Dialysis Center in Farmington.”

Surette explained that each participant will be “completely dressed like a woman” and will compete in three different categories: casual wear, talent and evening gown.

“Each participant will go through the crowd and collect donations for each segment,” she said. “We’ll select a winner at the end of each segment based on who collects the most, and the participant who collects the most donations between all three categories will be the overall winner. It’s kind of a spinoff of the traditional beauty pageant.”

The money collected by each participant will be donated to charities, including Camp Sunshine in Casco.

The idea for an all-male beauty pageant began in 2005, according to Surette, after auxiliary members Mary McDonald and Steph Wilson suggested it.

“Over the last seven pageants we’ve held, we’ve been able to raise over $26,000,” she said.

Ages of participants have ranged from 15 to 70 years old.

“It’s a real fun event, watching all those guys go up and down the catwalk,” Surette said.

A dessert buffet will be available, with food cooked by auxiliary members and donated by residents.

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