By: Ben Goldberg > University of Maryland

With one big win, a senior at George Mason University turned the tradition of beauty pageants completely upside down.

Ryan Allen, a senior communications major at George Mason, was officially announced as the school’s homecoming queen last week, a move that has given hope to many.

“I didn’t think for a second I would win. I figured someone would find a loop-hole or one of the other actual contestants would get their groups to back them and then get other groups to back them,” Allen said.

The newly crowned Ms. Mason said he talked about running for the pageant with his friends since he was a freshman and figured this was his last chance.

Although the announcement was made at a basketball game, Allen said most people found out about the win on Perez Hilton, a well-known pop-culture blog.

The win has brought out conflicting feelings in students at the university. Most support Allen and think there is a message of hope and equality behind his win. Others are uncomfortable with the idea.

For his part, Allen knows there are those who don’t agree with him and said he respects their opinion.

Allen, who performs as a drag queen at local clubs, was sponsored by Pride Alliance, the gay-straight alliance on campus.  He also made a Facebook event to remind people to vote for him.

He leaned on the support of his friends, who aside from always being there for him also helped him look amazing in his outfits.

But Allen wasn’t expecting some of the effects of his win: he has e-mails and Facebook friend requests pouring in from all over the country. “I was just being myself and having a good time,” he said. “I never meant to make a statement or inspire anyone. But since I did, hooray!”

Allen said the other contestants, as well as the student body, have been very supportive.  “The other contestants were really sweet about the whole thing,” he said. “They’ve also been harassed by the media which is upsetting to me because they didn’t ask for any of it. None of them have said one negative thing which I think shows how great they are as people.”

Now that everything is over, Allen hopes his victory can inspire others.  “I think that my win just shows people – in or out of college – that it’s okay to be yourself. And I hope I have shown people that it’s okay to not take life so seriously. Our economy is in the toilet, we’re at war and a boy in a dress won homecoming queen. Which of these things is not like the other?”