Mr. Nitro crowned in fourth annual pageant at Glendale High School
Aureen Aghajanian was crowned “Mr. Nitro” Friday night after competing against nine other students during Glendale High School’s fourth annual male-only pageant, serving as a fundraiser for the high school’s Associated Student Body, which helps fund numerous clubs on campus.
This year, to help spread the word about the pageant, a “Boys Auction” was held, where students could place bids starting at $3 to support one of the 10 contestants.
Aghajanian promised his highest bidder that he would deliver Starbucks coffee to them and provide a free salsa lesson.
During the pageant, he performed a freestyle, hip-hop dance and then paired up with his twin sister, Aurianna Aghajanian, to perform the cha-cha.
The 17-year-old has been dancing for the past six years, and regularly participates in Latin ballroom dance competitions across Southern California.
“I spend most of my time dancing,” he said. Years ago, his mom spotted his dance talent at family gatherings and urged him to take dance lessons.
“We would go to family gatherings and weddings. I would move to the music and I had the rhythm. I just didn’t know how to put it into dance moves. My mom saw that in me. She basically forced me to go to dance class,” Aghajanian said.
“For the first year, I was pretty defensive. I would cry and say, ‘Dancing is for girls. I don’t want to dance.’ Now, I’m completely thankful. I end up being the guy in the middle of the circle. It’s pretty great,” he added.
Leading up to the Mr. Nitro pageant, the contestants rehearsed on Thursday in the John Wayne Performing Arts Center, where the pageant was going to be held.
Each year, the seniors who volunteer for the pageant know that they will be judged in three categories — how they appear in a tuxedo and a bathing suit as well as how well they perform in the talent portion of the pageant.
Four years ago, when the school hosted its first pageant, students weren’t sure how to respond to it, recalled Marianna Yolyan, student body president.
“People didn’t know what it was. Was it classy, unclassy? So, we make it very classy. The boys don’t do anything inappropriate. It’s all with good humor,” she said.
Four years later, the Mr. Nitro pageant has started to catch on, and Wednesday’s auction alone raised $200 for the Associated Student Body, Yolyan said.
Senior Kyle Iniguez promised to deliver Ferrero Rocher chocolates to his winning bidder, as well as an order of Chick-Fil-A. Angelo Jose’s winning bidder would receive a “basket of snacks,” and his promise to “carry around your backpack and do your homework for the day.”
Senior Jared Singson promised interested parties a “serenade” featuring his dance moves, as well as the delivery of a stuffed animal, flowers and candy during the winning bidder’s third-period class.
Abraham Martinez, an inside linebacker on the Glendale High football team, was encouraged by his teammates to try to be named “Mr. Nitro” and planned to perform stand-up comedy during his talent routine.
“I just want to have a lot of memories when I grow up and tell my kids about this stuff. Since I was a freshman, I watched Mr. Nitro, so I’ve been wanting to do it. It’s been so fun,” he said during Thursday’s rehearsal. “I got a lot closer to all these guys right here, some of them I didn’t even talk to until we started doing this. I’m glad my football team told me to do this because it’s been a great experience.”
Fellow senior Steven Blugrind, who planned to perform a dance routine during his talent portion, said he didn’t put pressure on himself to win the competition.
“If I don’t win, that’s fine,” he said, adding that he would be pleased with himself as long as “I do my best, believe in myself and be me.”
Fellow senior Christian Araujo also signed up for the pageant for the fun of it.
“I think most of the guys that go to Glendale High should feel like they have the opportunity to do something that celebrates them,” he said.
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
