2012 Miss Tootsie Pageant

2012 Miss Tootsie Contestants

The city of Wadena, Minn., got a good laugh and helped a good cause Friday night during the third annual Miss Tootsie Pageant. 
Five area men dressed up as women and strutted their stuff in front of a crowded Wadena Memorial Auditorium. 
Organizer Bonnie Kingsley said the pageant was a success and raised about $2,000 for the Miss Wadena Scholarship Fund. 
“I’m very happy that there are gentlemen that will take this on,” Kingsley said. “To come up and put it out there on the stage (and) have fun with it. Really, without them raising the funds for Miss Wadena, we would struggle to keep the scholarship at the same level.”
Horizon Painting and Restoration owner Tom Anderson, known by his stage name as “Anita Moregano,” took home the crown. 
“This is such a great show and we had fun with it,” Anderson said. “Once you get up there, you really have fun. I didn’t do too bad for a homely looking Italian with a good wardrobe, I guess.” 

Tom Anderson with daughter Haley

Anderson joins his daughter Haley Anderson as Wadena royalty. Haley Anderson is the reigning Miss Wadena. 
Tom Anderson says his experience doing the pageant was memorable and a way to say thank you for what the scholarship fund offered his daughter.
“Well I think it just comes around full circle,” Anderson said. “The pageant has given to my daughter and given her a great experience, so I think I wanted to make sure we gave back.” 
In addition to winning Miss Tootsie, Anderson took home the awards for formal wear, onstage question and talent. 
The other men competing in the Gaga Goo-themed pageant were Erik Osberg as “Penny Wise,” George Behl as “Shelita Buffet,” Kevin Ford as “Alicia P. Supright” and Gary Carsten as “Barbie Buttercup.” Carsten won people’s choice and casual wear.
Kingsley says she is already planning next year’s Ms. Tootsie Pageant and has decided it will have a gypsy theme.