n the end, it was the lady in red who was crowned, center stage, and handed a sparkling plastic tiara and bouquet of roses.

She stood perfectly poised, blushing and waiving at an adoring audience in a sequined two-piece evening gown.

And for a moment it was almost easy to overlook the plaid boxer shorts peeking over the lip of her skirt.

Yes, he was the prettiest, most charismatic woman on Van Meter’s stage last night in the annual “Miss”ter Western Pageant.

Bowling Green senior Ryan Cummings said he entered the contest as a favor for the campus chapter of Alpha Delta Pi and nearly backed out of the deal when he found out it meant he had to dress as a woman.

“I’m so proud of him – he deserved it,” said Mayfield senior ADPi Jessica Bennett. “We knew he would do good. That’s why we put him in.”

Also rooting for Cummings were his intramural flag football teamates in the audience and a slightly-embarrassed younger brother who told Cummings after the show he looked like their mother.

Cummings was one of six Western men who dressed in drag last night for the 10th-plus “Miss”ter Western Pageant, a philanthropy event sponsored by Alpha Gamma Delta. All of the event’s proceeds will go to the sorority’s foundation to support diabetes research.

Several campus organizations donated $75 to sponsor the male participants, and admission was $3 at the door.

Three student judges ranked contestants on creativity, stage presence, poise and audience reaction during the three-round pageant.

After showing off their various “talents,” snazzy formal wear and quick wit in a final question-answer portion of the contest, second place honors went to Louisville senior Aaron Davenport. Munfordville freshman Blane Glass earned a third place finish.

Most of the audience spent the evening in hysterics – and the laughs started early.

Half an hour before the show Howe Valley sophomore Michael Hendrick sauntered toward the stage in bowed pigtails and daisy dukes, announcing to a crowd of mostly sorority members, “I got a thong on dude, I hope my junk don’t fall out,” igniting a fury of laughter from the front row.

Meanwhile, backstage two girls frantically assisted Thomas “Goody” Goodman in lining up his new feminine assets.

“Do this,” one girl said gesturing to her own chest. “Do they feel like real boobs?”

Goodman, dressed in a green Kappa Alpha t-shirt, jeans and a black crimped mullet that would make Christina Aguilera blush, shrugs, runs his hand over his thick brown moustache and beard, and readjusts his bundled scarf “breasts” for the umpteenth time.

It was Goodman’s third year participating in the “Miss”ter Western Pageant. Though he said he wasn’t nervous, his sentiments for female attire remained despondent.

“Man,” he said, “it would suck to be a girl.”

Louisville senior Meredith Gruebbel and several of her fellow Sigma Kappas jolted from their seats in the back of the auditorium, laughing at and cheering for their participant – a copper-wigged Aaron Davenport who gave a riveting performance of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the recorder.

She said her sorority never misses an opportunity to attend the pageant.

“It’s so funny to watch the guys we know dress up like girls and make fools of themselves,” she said. “And it’s for a good cause.”

Reach Natasha Allen at features@wkuherald.com.