Mr. TC Brings The Swag

     As the auditorium filled, the audience began talking amongst themselves. The excitement was audible and each individual present was filled with anticipation. As it got closer to the 4:30 show, curiosity grew: who will look best in their swimsuit? What will the contestants’ talents be? And most importantly: who will be Mr. T.C.?
     First, the hosts took the stage after the curtain unveiled to reveal a giant Mr. T.C. banner. The hosts introduced themselves and outlined the evening’s events: casual wear, swimsuit portion, group dance, talent competition, formal wear, interview, and results. They also listed the contestants: sophomore Nicolas Ahumada, junior Hashim Taylor, ans seniors Ahmed Al-Tahimi, Kentdrick Barnes, Jamie Brown, Ryan Yates, Matt Kilby, and Yusrah Sankoh. The all-important judges were also revealed: SGA president Dominque Lopez, Ms. Desasso, Ms. Moran, and the homecoming queen Hawati Demissie.
     The casual wear section was first, in which each contestant strutted his stuff down the catwalk in his school apparel. Next, there was the highlight of the evening: the swimwear competition. Each participant walked down the stage in a muscle tee, often ripping their shirts off or (more entertainingly) having girls remove their shirts for them. The audience went wild. Next, there were some technical difficulties as the audience attempted to view a video of dance rehearsal. It was soon forgotten when the potential Mr. T.C. boys came out and danced to the Cha-Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, Soulja Boy, You’re A Jerk, and Stanky Leg. While they may not all be fit for So You Think You Can Dance, it was a fun way for the contestants to show off their moves and personalities.
     The individual or small group talent part was next. These talents ranged from the humorous- Jamie Brown’s skit advocating Polo cologne, Kentdrick Barnes’ and Cortez Taylor’s rap to Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, or Ryan Yates’ and Matt Kilby’s dance to Party in the U.S.A.- to more sentimental, such as Yusrah Sankoh’s poem recitation to a lucky volunteer from the audience. The talent competition was a great way to allow the participants to showcase their talent, or at least let them go a little crazy.
     After a brief intermission, the boys each walked down the stage looking dashing in their formal attire, each with one or two impeccably dressed escorts accompanying him. The contestants returned to the stage and it was time for the inverview section of the competition. Each competitor had to choose a card at random from the interviewer’s hand, then answer the question. When asked, “What do you like most about our school?” sophomore Nicolas Ahumada said, “It’s very environmentally helpful.” Another question was, “What did you dream about last night?” to which senior Kentdrick Barnes said, “I dreamed about going to graduation, walking up that stage to get my diploma. And, of course, kissing my mama afterwards.”
     Next, the host introduced a special treat: a performance by Problem Child Entertainment, who sang an original rap. This gave the judges a chance to make their decision and gave the audience the opportunity to hear new music while predicting who would become the first ever Mr. T.C. Soon afterwards, the devastatingly handsome contenders were called back onstage, where they were asked about their favorite part of the competition, to which sophomore Nicolas Ahumada said, “Party in the U.S.A!”
     Finally, the moment of truth had arrived. All the contestants were excited to hear the results, and the viewers were all impatient to hear if their predictions were correct. The spectators were on the edge of their seats when the hosts announced the princes: Matt Kilby, Yusrah Sankoh, and Ryan Yates. The winner of the pageant and the first ever Mr. T.C., was none other than senior Kentdrick Barnes. As he accepted the crown, he joyfully said, “Thank you everybody!”