WENDELL - The antics on the stage at the Wendell Community Center Saturday night almost outshined the laughter coming from the full house crowd that turned out to watch eight local men dress up like women and compete for the crown in a womanless beauty pageant.

The show was a big fundraiser for the Pirates of the CURE-ibbean Relay for Life team. Organizers told the crowd near the end of Saturday night’s two-hour event that the event raised $7,100. A few minutes later, concession sales were added to the total raising the night’s charity haul to more than $7,500.

Glenn Alford – known to contestants as Glynn-deva – took the crown, outdueling seven other contestants by raising $1,652.

Watching the crowd on Saturday night, though, one could make the argument that the folks who filled the seats were the real winners. They were treated to funny contestants – all of whom told emcees Kathe Anderson and Allison Klepchick that they would work for world peace, “women” with full beards and antics between sets.

After the event, Klepchick and Anderson were all smiles as they talked about how the event went off.

“This is more than we ever expected. We never thought this many people would turn out. Wendell is awesome,” Klepchick said. Anderson said she was shocked by the turnout. “I’m just touched that so many people were willing to support an event like this,” Anderson said.

Both women work together at Klip Chicks, said they had been hearing from customers for several weeks about a similar event held decades ago, sponsored by the Rescue Squad.

“Everyone was talking about those pageants from way back then. And everyone had a different story to tell,” Anderson said.

The reincarnated pageant enjoyed a link to the past when 1974 winner William “Wilhemina” Ammons walked to the stage wearing his crown, which he put on the stage like a challenge to this year’s contestants before shaking hands with each one.

Alford was joined on the stage by Mike “Kelli-With-an-I” Costantino, Jody “Cuff-a-lina” Wall, Tim “Timberly” Hinnant, Shane “ShaNa” Gay, Jason “Amanda Hugnkiss” Klepchick, Allen “Illenne Dover” Swaim and Peedie “Aubrey” Edwards.