2008 Woodie Awards
Mr. Tennessee has TSU roots
Seth E. Davis
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Arts & Culture
Kings Konnection and its executive director, Dwight Pope, plan to crown a new king in their 2nd annual Mr. Tennessee pageant Aug. 23, 2008 in TSU's Poag Auditorium.
The pageant was the idea of Pope, TSU's cheerleading coach. Pope sought to create another positive venue for men to gain exposure to the public and better access to the tools necessary for success.
"The idea of the Mr. Tennessee Competition was created to advance educational and professional opportunities for men within the state of Tennessee," Pope said. "(I)t will provide scholarships allowing the participants to achieve their educational, career and personal goals."
On June 3, 2007 Kings Konnection crowned D'Errico Wylie as their first Mr. Tennessee, also awarding him a $2,000 scholarship.
The 23-year-old TSU psychology doctoral candidate and Nashville native found out about the competition from a fellow Allure Modeling Troupe member.
"(He) came in talking about a flyer that he seen that was looking for Mr. Tennessee," Wylie said. "He was saying how he thought he would compete in the pageant and he thought I should too."
Wylie's reign garnered the praise of Pope and the former Miss TSU for his efforts in his role of Mr. Tennessee.
"He always presents himself like a king in public," said reigning Miss TSU Orna Jones, a senior Spanish major from Southfield, Mich. "He is so dependable. He is the type of person that if you ask him to do something he will do it."
Pope not only sees the pageant as a means to reward and support the contestant's future endeavors; he also sees it as a tool to better the community.
"The Mr. Tennessee Competition sets out to accomplish two major goals; showing the community positive male role models, and providing a platform that will aid the King in making a difference," said Pope.
The pageant contestants have to turn in an application, be interviewed, and compete in the categories of fitness, talent, formal, and on-stage question and answer.
The pageant was the idea of Pope, TSU's cheerleading coach. Pope sought to create another positive venue for men to gain exposure to the public and better access to the tools necessary for success.
"The idea of the Mr. Tennessee Competition was created to advance educational and professional opportunities for men within the state of Tennessee," Pope said. "(I)t will provide scholarships allowing the participants to achieve their educational, career and personal goals."
On June 3, 2007 Kings Konnection crowned D'Errico Wylie as their first Mr. Tennessee, also awarding him a $2,000 scholarship.
The 23-year-old TSU psychology doctoral candidate and Nashville native found out about the competition from a fellow Allure Modeling Troupe member.
"(He) came in talking about a flyer that he seen that was looking for Mr. Tennessee," Wylie said. "He was saying how he thought he would compete in the pageant and he thought I should too."
Wylie's reign garnered the praise of Pope and the former Miss TSU for his efforts in his role of Mr. Tennessee.
"He always presents himself like a king in public," said reigning Miss TSU Orna Jones, a senior Spanish major from Southfield, Mich. "He is so dependable. He is the type of person that if you ask him to do something he will do it."
Pope not only sees the pageant as a means to reward and support the contestant's future endeavors; he also sees it as a tool to better the community.
"The Mr. Tennessee Competition sets out to accomplish two major goals; showing the community positive male role models, and providing a platform that will aid the King in making a difference," said Pope.
The pageant contestants have to turn in an application, be interviewed, and compete in the categories of fitness, talent, formal, and on-stage question and answer.
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