Rick Gunn/Nevada Appeal Jon Holloway, left, prepares for his wookie performance while Sam Pincock, center, gives his best big-hair look Tuesday evening in the dressing room of the Community Center. The two were competing to become this year's Mr. Carson High.
It's not often that Ryan Bauer dresses up as a woman.
But when he put on a white maid costume Tuesday night and vacuumed around a stage at the Community Center, he found it was pretty easy.
"I was just having fun," Bauer said Wednesday after school.
For his efforts and for his lip-synching talent to Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like a Lady," judges voted him first place in the Mr. Carson High contest. Throughout the day Wednesday, students praised him for the great job.
"I got a lot of congratulations from people I don't talk to very much," he said. "It was really weird."
The competition, a spoof on the "Miss America" contest, is a tradition at the school. Some people try to make it to the contest every year, like Dona Tuttle, the attendance secretary.
"I've made it every time the past 14 years, except once," she said. "I think it's hilarious. The emcees just mock the show."
Each year 12 students with outrageous performance ideas are selected to compete. They practice together for about two weeks during lunch.
"I was way surprised (about winning)," Bauer said. "It came down to me and Andrew Cardinal and he was dancing to a Michael Jackson song. He did a great job."
Bauer, 18, is a drama student and member of the Capitol Stars choir at Carson High. In college, he hopes to study technical theater.
Since performing and costume ideas aren't new to him, he went right to the drama department's costume closet and pulled out a maid outfit when his idea popped into his head.
Many of his ideas came from the 1993 movie "Mrs. Doubtfire," which tells the story of a recent male divorcee who dresses up a female housekeeper so he can see his children. "Dude Looks Like a Lady" is in the soundtrack.
For his effort, Bauer won $100 in cash, a $200 gift certificate to Sun King Window Tinting, dinner for two at Adele's Restaurant, a free tux rental for the prom and other items.
Also at the contest Tuesday night were friends and students Iliana Juarez, 18, and Nadia Limone, 14.
"I thought it was really awesome," Juarez said. "It was really funny. All the guys did great."
Limone agreed about the event, which is sponsored by and raises money for the Carson High cheerleading squad.
"I thought it was great," she said.
n Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
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