Yes, you can be Ms. or Mr. Maynard!

The “ultimate north end pageant” takes place this weekend on Maynard and Cornwallis Streets (outside of 5653 Cornwallis at 2:30pm), and promises to be a rager. The Ms. And Mr. Maynard pageant is hosted by the Radiator Collective and organized by Jenna Empey and Heather Rappard, and will crown two lucky folks who are brave and bold enough to strut their stuff and their weird talents in front of four impartial judges. The categories are as follows: evening wear, talent, a swimsuit portion, arm wrestling, beer chugging, trivia and a lightning dice round. The winners will be crowned later that night at Gus’ Pub with a celebratory show by Fantods, ECT, Mackenzie Kings, Stop Motion Massacre and Floodland. “Months ago there was a weird streak of friends breaking out their bizarro circus tricks. Things like juggling or freakish contortion that I never knew they could do before,” says Jenna Empey. “So weird talent combined with the absurdity of beauty pageants is where Ms. and Mr. Maynard came from. It’s not a straight up beauty contest; a lot of folks immediately shy away from things like that. It’s open to interpretation I know that some gals are competing as fellers and some guys competing as ladies too. The points are awarded for inventiveness, creativity and hilarity with a big portion going towards odd talent.” You know you’ve been dying to show off your wicked lasso skills, right?

This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2009.