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est. 1930

The Wildcat

est. 1930

The Wildcat

est. 1930

The Wildcat

‘I’m Just Mr. Brea’: Annual Pageant Returns to the PAC

Get to know the nine senior and two staff member contestants who will compete tomorrow night for the title of ‘Mr. Brea.’
Mr.+Brea+contestants+at+the+winter+rally+on+Jan.+19.+The+annual+pageant+will+take+place+on+Friday+at+7+p.m.+in+the+Performing+Arts+Center.+%28Courtesy+of+Danica+Coburn%29
Mr. Brea contestants at the winter rally on Jan. 19. The annual pageant will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. (Courtesy of Danica Coburn)

Tomorrow evening, twelve contestants will showcase their talents to prove that they are indeed “Kenough” to win this year’s Barbie-themed Mr. Brea pageant.

The two-hour show will showcase nine male seniors – Timothy Carman, Alexander Chao, Beakman Chen, Sean Cronin, Ryan Kang, Aidan Lauron, Carter Lavold, Ryan Okazaki, and Dominick Rodriguez — who were nominated by their senior peers in October via a 5-Star Students online poll. In addition, two BOHS staff members, Justin Villasenor, special education teacher, and Marcial Diego, campus supervisor, will compete head-to-head at the event. 

At the conclusion of the evening of dancing, singing, performing, and interviewing, one senior and a staff member winner will be selected by a panel of judges.

The Wildcat interviewed the eleven contestants who will vie for the coveted title of “Mr. Brea.”

Senior Mr. Brea Contestants
Timmy Carman

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I'm really excited about being nominated for Mr. Brea, and I think it'll be really fun to do. I'm really excited to perform and go with my escort. I hope to make memories of just laughing with everyone, and having fun with all the guys that are doing the show with me.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

The beach scene, just because of the hype around it and how funny it is. I hope to make it pretty funny. 

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

Winning Mr. Brea would mean a lot to me. it would mean all the community involvement and everything I've done [has] paid off.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I’m already a winner because I have my own special talents.

Alexander Chao

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I'm really happy about being nominated for Mr. Brea because I’ve been watching it for the past two years and helping work [the event]. And it's exciting that it’s finally my time to do Mr. Brea and perform.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

I’m most excited for my act; I think it’s going to be good. I'm planning on doing a hiphop dance with three of my friends. Group rehearsals have been fun, too. It's interesting seeing guys who have never danced before try to dance, and it's really entertaining to watch them struggle. But it’s really fun to bond with everybody there.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

It would be really cool to win Mr. Brea. It just shows I can do it, you know? There are some really talented guys, so it would feel good being able to beat them. But even if I don’t, it would be fun to know that I competed against them. We all have our own talents and [winning] would show that my talent is really good.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I’m very versatile in my talents, and I know how to engage the audience while simultaneously showing off the things I can do well!

Beakman Chen

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I was surprised. I was the last one to be announced for Mr. Brea. I didn’t know there [were] ten, I thought it was only seven. I was in calculus, and everyone is [a] boy. The only one nominated for Mr. Brea was me, and we were so surprised.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

Probably the beach scene. I’ve never done it before.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

Probably watching the videos when I [am] like 80 or something. Like how I found Mr. Quiming was Mr. Brea on YouTube, like 10 years ago. I think that would be the most fun memory I could probably think of [is] obviously making friends with other Mr. Breas, so that's a good thing.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

Perhaps it's an insatiable spirit. I constantly strive for improvement. Achieving my set goals brings happiness, spurring me to set new ones and propel myself forward, continually enhancing my performance.

Sean Cronin

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I was surprised on the day that they announced it because they brought candies and gifts for us, but it was exciting. It was cool, but I was a little bit confused because I didn't know what Mr. Brea was [as] I had never been to a show. But now I know a lot more about it.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

I think I’m most excited about the talent and beach scene because you get to make it your own. All the other parts are with a group, but the talent and the beach scene you get to be funny, or a little bit more genuine, or just show who you are. That’s something I'm excited for. There's a lot of rehearsals. You would think, “Oh it's just like a little Mr. Brea show” but no, it’s becoming an everyday activity. [But] some of the levels of dancing – some people are just at a higher level or lower level of dancing than others. 

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

I think winning Mr. Brea would be a cool thing that I could have to remind myself or tell people like, “Hey I did that back in high school; yeah I was Mr. Brea.” It would be a cool thing to remember. Although it's not going down in history, maybe someone who wants to look through the list of Mr. Brea contestants will see my name.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I’m just Ken.

Ryan Kang

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

[It was] unexpected. I had no idea what I was going to perform.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

I am most excited for my dance performance.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

Realization of all the hard work that was put into the dance, especially all the time management to fit rehearsals with seven people.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I am a son of God.

Aidan Lauron

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea?

I think it's really funny because it's just cool to see me being part of this pageant thing. I remember seeing all of the seniors throughout the years be part of it too, and I'm now one of those people.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

I think being able to include my friends in it-- I think that's what excites me the most, because we get to be on stage and be goofy. I think the group dance is also pretty amusing; it's good to see all ten of us put the number together. Props to Eli and Danica (Mr. Brea commissioners) for putting it together.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

It would actually be pretty cool, because I remember Nolan Guss won it my sophomore year. Nolan was a big inspiration to me, so I think it would be cool being just like him, if I won Mr. Brea.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

Because I believe I "Ken" do it.

Carter Lavold

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea?

I mean it's cool cause both my dad and grandpa went to Brea and neither of them were ever nominated, so it's kinda cool being nominated. 

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

My act. My talent is with all my friends, and I'm just excited to have a fun time and have fun with it.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

I think it would be pretty cool. Like I said, no one in my family has been nominated, even though my grandpa and dad went here. 

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I have lived in Brea all my life, I have a family history in Brea because both my dad and grandfather graduated from Brea, and have volunteered in the past for multiple events for the city of Brea.

Ryan Okazaki

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I feel very excited. It's very humbling to be nominated. It's been such a fun experience, so I’m really happy that I have this opportunity. I just hope to remember the fun times on stage, the fun memories, and planning the carpool karaoke. Just the little things like going to McDonalds and getting free water and it's just the fun memories that make it really cool.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

I'm really excited to perform my act with my escort; we're going to be singing and dancing. I'm going to be doing a La La Land-themed performance, singing "City of Stars," and doing a little dance segment. For the group dance we've been working on, I feel like the Barbie songs are really fun. [The contestants] didn't really know each other as a group, but we have definitely gotten to know each other a little more. Some people are dancers like Alex Chao, and I have some experience with show choir, while others are football players. It’s interesting to see all of us come together and get the dance right. 

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

It would be really exciting just because this is a fun thing for me. Getting nominated and being able to participate is really a treat in and of itself, but to win would be really exciting.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

TaylorNation reposted my story at the Eras Tour. 

Dominick Rodriguez

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I feel happy and excited to be a part of this nomination. Yeah, I'm really happy and I cant wait to put on a good show for everybody.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

I’m excited to perform my talent. I would say the beach part because we're planning to go to the beach and that's really fun, and it’s a little spontaneous type thing, and we're really plotting and I think it's really fun and I can’t wait.  

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

I want to go out of senior year with a bang, and it's my last year of high school before we go off to college. I just want to have a memorable senior year, do some fun things, be a normal teen, and live life. Winning Mr. Brea would be a cherry on top.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I am more Barbie than Ken and I don’t fall into toxic masculinity and patriarchal standards. 

Staff Mr. Brea Contestants
Justin Villasenor, Special Education Teacher

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

It's pretty cool. I've been nominated before, and I lost. So, I want to win this one.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

The talent. We're not supposed to give it away.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

It's vengeance from losing from last time. I think the recognition for the talent part, I'm kind of excited for that.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

Well, in the teacher skit [in the Homecoming rally], I was Ken.

Marcial Diego, Campus Supervisor

How do you feel about being nominated for Mr. Brea? 

I am definitely honored. It is kind of left field, but I am always up for any challenge or school event. I'm very excited.

Which segment of the show are you most excited to perform?

It has to be what I'm going to do for my talent. My daughter is escorting me, which I think is the best part.

What would winning Mr. Brea mean to you?

It would be an amazing surprise because I'm new to this campus, and people will get to know me and see a different side of me beside being the security person that I am.

What makes you “Kenough” to be Mr. Brea?

I have watched the Barbie movie, and I do love the Barbie movie. I think I have what it takes to be Mr. Brea.

The Mr. Brea competition takes place tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center . Tickets can still be purchased for $15 ($10 with an ASB imprint) on GoFan.

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Ellen Kim
Ellen Kim, Editor-in-Chief
Ellen Kim, senior, has been a member of the newspaper staff since her freshman year and is excited to lead the staff as Editor-in-Chief. Alongside her leadership in the Wildcat, Ellen is involved in ASB as Senior Class President and can be spotted in many clubs and organizations across campus including HOSA, Mubotics, Orchestra, and FTOC. Outside of school, Ellen can be found learning the ukulele, listening to her favorite pop tunes, or playing a competitive round of Uno. Ellen has published over 35 pieces for the Wildcat and is thrilled to create lots more during her final year at BOHS.
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