Story by Connect2Mason Breaking News Director Matt Todd. Photo by Teddy Meyer.
Ryan Allen became the first drag queen to win Ms. Mason at this week’s Homecoming 2009 "No One Has Swagger Like Us" Mr. and Ms. Mason contest.
Allen, a senior, ran as his counterpart, Reann Ballslee, donning a red wig, matching silver earrings and silver bracelet, a long red dress, and silver high heels. Announced during halftime at yesterday’s homecoming game, Allen said he was “shocked” to hear of his win.
“Personally, it's exciting. But I feel like the win is bigger than me. It says a lot about Mason and the student body. Not only do we go to a very diverse school, but that diversity is celebrated regularly--even at the homecoming game,” says Allen.
Though Allen expressed great joy in winning Ms. Mason, he also admitted how uneasy it made him at the same time. Yet, he sees it as a breakthrough and is ecstatic about the diversity of the school. He adds, “I hope that Reann's win will inspire others to do things that they may not feel one-hundred percent comfortable with. I was really nervous about the way my running would be seen by Mason--but as we can see, it worked out pretty well.”
Allen represented George Mason’s Pride Alliance and hosts the Annual Drag Show on campus. He’s also a costume designer for the Mason Players.
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23 October 2009
45 weeks 2 days
I was a long time supporter financially of George Mason University until last week. What was the reason and purpose of voting a man as Homecoming Queen? For diversity? Are you serious? What of the “real” women who are a influential and significant part of your University who’ve strived for the honor of representing your University? Is it that you look down on women who put in the work and effort to be a Home Coming Queen of a prominent University? Do most of you understand what it takes to win the title? Is that title so insignificant to your school that you turn it into a circus act? If you’re not able to answer those questions, then I suggest you be prepared for the negative publicity you’ll be receiving over the next couple of months. You’ll think twice next time. But I suspect they’ll be no next time. Shame on your George Mason. You’ll get no more financial support from my healthy organization(best web hosting). And it will hurt, trust me. Corporation Name Withheld.
19 February 2009
1 year 28 weeks
Congratulations Reann !!!
Many years ago, a number of male students at the University of Baltimore School of Law also decided that we would submot our photos in drag for the homecoming.
They were submitted to the undergraduate dean of student affairs, who after looking at them [we chose the best 3 of about 10 to submit] exclaimed, 'WOW -- I'VE NEVER SEEN THESE FEMALE LAW STUDENTS IN THE HALLWAYS !!!'
We assured him that was because they all went to 'night school.'
About a week later, the Dean saw me in the hallway and said that he had stayed over for the night school classes and still hadn't seen any of them. I told him that maybe they had to work late on those nights and might not have been there.
Well, since all of the women in the Day School were in on the gag [not too many back then], word got out that ALL of the contestants from the law school were really guys in drag. So just before the vote, we were all excluded from the contest. To bad, for surely one of us would have won!
During a class in Civil Procedure, the Dean Emeritus of Mt. Vernon Law School [that had merged with the U of B Law School 2 years previously] stated during a class, that he understood that some of the male law students had pulled a 'nasty trick on the LADIES of the undergraduate school,' [he was clearly a chavonist] and that the only thing that he was going to say was that 'equity regards substance and not form.' He also skipped over all of the cases involving sex changes and marriage in a subsequent domestic relations course. -- What a drag !!!
Incidentally Professor Stuart Malawer was our Law Review Adviser that Year at the U of B. He has been with George Mason now for many years.
Stay well and don't sign up for 'center' on the football team. LOL
brucerealtor@gmail.com
19 February 2009
1 year 28 weeks
I was so excited to read about Mason's new Homecoming Queen in the Washington Post. I am proud of Reann, proud of the students that voted for her, and I am so very proud of the administrators who didn't cut Reann from the ballot. Many lesser institutions would have gotten nervous and taken the politic route, but Mason's admin demonstrated faith in the credibility and intelligence of their students. It is a wonderful day to be a Mason alum.