The first Athens Zombie Pageant will be bringing “drop dead gorgeous” contestants on stage in an unconventional manner.
Elizabeth Deuschle, event director for the pageant, was crowned Ms. Southern Ohio with “Beauties of the Nation,” which awards women based on their community service and status as community role models. Wanting to have a charity pageant that was also fun, the Athens Zombie Pageant began to take form with Deuschle’s colleagues.
She said the pageant’s participants will dress as their own individual zombies, participate in a “beauty” walk and an optional talent portion. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation and help fund the pageant.
“The only stipulation is that they’re some sort of zombie,” Deuschle said. “They can be horribly decomposed or they can have just some white powder on their faces … It’s not a serious competition because everybody is going to get a tiara and a sash.”
Deuschle said even if community members don’t want to participate, they can do their part by being audience members.
“(Make-A-Wish does) work with children who have … difficult illnesses to overcome and they are looking for a way to make their lives better,” she said. “And the money that we raise from selling the Make-A-Wish stars at the event will be going to the Make-A-Wish foundation along with money that we raise from selling dead bouquets that we have donated from local florists.”
Deanna Straw, a participant in Friday’s pageant, said she is getting ready to be a Hello Kitty zombie and has had a lot of fun preparing and telling her friends to participate.
“I was afraid it sounded lame, but I’m looking forward to the tiara and the sparkles,” Straw said. “But also getting to be active in the community and having some fun with them, with other locals.”Straw said the pageant will be a great opportunity to let loose, unleash her inner zombie and enjoy Halloween with the Athens community.
“I believe that being a part of a community is really strengthened by doing activities together, and this is just one way that we can be a community together, having fun and laughing, instead of being so serious about all the things going on,” Straw said. “We can actually have permission to be a kid and laugh and enjoy ourselves.”
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What: Athens Zombie Pageant
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St.
Admission: Free for audience, $20 for zombies
