by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
Female students strutting their stuff onstage drew admiration and criticism at the Peaches and Cream Fashion Show on Monday.
"I'm just trying to hold a respectable medium," said Jason Goodman, president of Black Men in Motion. "I was trying to make the event tasteful, and most of my contestants followed that medium - PG-13."
About 150 students attended the event in the SUB. Each contestant paid a $10 entrance fee, which will be used to buy uniforms for Black Men in Motion, a student group that helps underprivileged youth in the community.
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From bikinis to saris, 20 contestants put on their best gear in shades of peach and white to display themselves for the judges.
Throughout the competition, nine judges handed their favorite contestants peach and white roses. At the end of the event, they huddled to decide a winner.
Judge Dominic Botts said contestants were graded on presentation, energy and originality.
"We didn't go off who showed the most," he said.
Student Tiyana Peters won the contest and was declared Ms. Peach 2007. Peters came out to a BeyoncÇ medley and danced on the judge's table. She wore an orange, yellow and brown sundress she bought at Forever 21.
"Jason approached me and just asked me to do it," she said.
Peters said she did not expect to win.
"I just wanted to have fun and help Jason out," she said. "I met a lot of cool girls."
Though some of the contestants were booed for revealing too much skin, a lot came out with class, student and judge Terence Brown said.
"I think Tiyana came out with nice presentation," he said. "She had lots of energy, and she was fashionable."
Student Che'Lyse Goodloe said overall the event was a classy affair.
"There were some girls who were dressed nicely, but there were some who should have been ashamed of themselves," she said. "Tiyana represented what class is."
Graduate student Michelle Touson said it was unfortunate that some contestants did not present themselves in a lady-like manner.
"The event was supposed to be about personal style, and a few young ladies decided not to take the high road," she said.
Touson said she appreciated some of the contestants' presentations.
"I especially loved the two young ladies in the Indian garb," she said. "I think they went outside the box."
Student Alex Nocella said there should be more events like Peaches and Cream on campus.
"Look at the turnout," he said.
Student Reggie Johnson said he attended the event to represent the Alphi Phi Alpha fraternity and to support his girlfriend, who was a contestant.
He said he was not jealous of the attention she received.
"She's coming home with me at the end of the day," he said.
Contestant Neha Butani wore a peach sari she bought in India.
"He (Goodman) told me he wanted me to bring my ethnic background into it," she said. "So, I decided to wear this."
Judge Daniel Lewis said he had a good time.
"It was really hard to judge because they all had their own sense of fashion," he said. "They all had their own style."
Goodman said Peaches and Cream along with So Fresh and So Green, a male fashion show in March, will become annual events. He said Black Men in Motion are getting geared up for community outreach and growth development.
"It was a success," Goodman said. "We went platinum."
