THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 18, 1994 TAG: 9407180056
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MARGARET TALEV, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
This year ``Best Body on the Beach'' was a family style - PG-13 - event at the Carolinian Motel on the oceanfront. There were no thongs, g-strings, whips or metal-tipped leather bustiers. It was as politically correct as a contest of its kind could be, complete with guidelines for suitable swimsuit attire and behavior on the platform.
It has not always been this way in 11 previous annual contests held at this Outer Banks hotel. In years past, many of the questions the emcee asked the contestants were sexually oriented.
On Sunday, male and female contestants were asked what they did for a living and what traits they looked for in a partner.
Boys and girls in the age 10 and under competition were asked who their heroes were, what they wanted to do when they grew up. And 11- to 17-year-olds could not participate at all.
``We try and keep this as clean as possible and family oriented,'' said contest organizer Bob Martin.
Former first place men's winner Mike Mylius of Richmond, Va., entered his son and a friend's children. ``I want them to get the same feeling of winning.''
``I don't feel it's exploitative. It's good for them,'' he said.
After strutting, grinning, charming, flexing, and answering several questions coherently, Mylius' 3-year-old son, Bronson, won the boys contest, for which he was awarded a ribbon, trophy and other prizes.
``Ribbons are where it starts,'' Mylius said. ``Then it's trophies - the big eight-footers.''
Holly Setnikar, 6, of Mastic, N.Y., won the girls' competition.
Some tots, in shorts or modest swimsuits, clung to their mothers' arms, hiding their faces from the hundreds of strangers who stared, pointed and giggled.
Steve Crawford, 40, of Indianapolis, said he wished there had been a separate contest for older adults. ``Most guys who can afford to come here are 40 and over,'' he said.
Contestants were limited to 60-second displays and judged on personality, creative presentation, physical endowments, physical fitness and audience response.
Jeff Griffith, 23, of Manteo and Heather Benz, 21, of Kitty Hawk took first place in the men and women competitions.
Many male onlookers watched the male contestants as closely as the females. ``I like looking at body builders - people who take time out for themselves,'' said Kill Devil Hills mechanic Leon Drake, who also works out.
And while much of the cheering section seemed as interested in the fitness angle as the sex, catcalls could be heard from the men gathered around the platform for the women's competition.
But 20-year-old Mindy Small said she didn't have a problem with that. ``All my friends are like, `Oh, the women here are being exploited,' '' she said.
She disagreed. ``They're here because they want to be here. The guys are here, too, showing off their bodies.'' ILLUSTRATION: Best bods on the beach
DREW C. WILSON/Staff
Jeff Griffith, of Manteo, flexes for the crowds Sunday at Carolinian
Motel in Nags Head during its annual Best Body on the Beach contest.
The 23-year-old won the mens competition.
DREW C. WILSON/Staff
Heather Benz, 21, of Kitty Hawk, celebrates after the judges name
her best female body on the beach.
by CNB