The men's fashion show/charity meat market no one knew we needed will strut its stuff in San Francisco for the benefit of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society this May. Put on by local fundraising organization Slap Cancer, the Mr. Marina Competition is seeking out "the male specimen who most embodies the spirit of San Francisco’s Marina District: social, fun-loving, generous, manly and it doesn’t hurt if he enjoys wearing pastel colors from time to time." Using the time-honored beauty pageant format, fourteen finalists for the Mr. Marina title will be judged in three categories: swimwear, a "Marina-wear" Question & Answer segment, and a talent show portion.
Tickets go on sale next week, on March 29th and will go to benefit Slap Cancer — a local fundraising organization for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that is sort of like that Livestrong campaign, except with slap bracelets instead of rubber bands.
While we anxiously await the competition on Wednesday, May 23rd, we might as well peruse the list of men in the running for the 94123's highest honor: Like David here whose Mr. Marina qualifications include taking his prep school friend's advice, getting an apartment a block away from Circa and then cementing his love for San Francisco over Jäger bombs at Silver Cloud. Or Charlie Brown (real name!) who drinks "way too much Bud Light", loves "any and all drinking games" and "will never turn down an invite to Bar None." Or Greg here, who has been known to take cabs from Balboa Café all the way back to campus at Stanford and was once an Abercrombie & Fitch model. Impeccable Marina pedigrees, all of them.
On a more serious, cancer-fighting note, all of these contestants will also be judged based on how much money they raise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so at least their overwhelming Marina-ness will be put to good use. And the best part: The event will happen at The Parlor, near Fisherman's Wharf, so you don't technically have to go to the Marina to attend. Or, as the organizers put it: "Mr. Marina doesn’t necessarily need to live in the 94123, but he does have to embody the neighborhood values." Here's hoping someone does a beer bong during the talent portion.
