Zeta Tau Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon paired up this weekend to raise awareness for breast cancer and fundraise for research in the first annual Think Pink-a-Palooza.

The evening began in the Kimmel Center for University Life Rosenthal Pavilion with the guest speaker Diana Lake, medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, who discussed the realities of breast cancer in America. Lake said one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

After the speech from Lake, Think Pink-a-Palooza changed gears with a male beauty pageant contest called Big Man On Campus. The pageant, open to all fraternities and sports teams on campus, was a competition of wit, charm and physical strength. To participate, each candidate was asked to get two sponsors to fund their entry.

“I thought it was really great that they boys at NYU wanted to get involved in our event and help us make it as amazing as it was,” said Julie Wichler, a Steinhardt junior and sponsor.

The men graced the stage dressed as their interpretation of a fighter in honor of those fighting breast cancer. The audience saw a boxer, a scientist and even Captain America represented in the men’s creative costumes.

The contestants were asked an array of trivia and personal questions, as well as administered tests of physical strength, while they were scored by a panel of judges.

“I hope that while people are having fun, they see that there is always something bigger than ourselves,” said Eleni Arvanitis, a CAS junior and the event’s organizer from Zeta Tau Alpha.

“My expectations were that the fundraiser would earn lots of money for the fight against breast cancer and that it would shed more light on the difficulties faced by those afflicted with breast cancer,” said CAS sophomore Max Gorden, a candidate of the competition and member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

CAS sophomore Jaime Perez of Phi Gamma Delta took home the “Big Man On Campus” crown.

Think Pink-a-Palooza raised almost $2,000 for breast cancer awareness and education. Arvanitis said her organization hopes to raise $2,000 throughout breast cancer awareness month.

“It’s an amazing cause,” said Gallatin sophomore Gigi Chen, a Kappa Kappa Gamma member. “I want to help support our other Greeks in the community.”

Arvanitis said the involvement and support of other Greek organizations has been crucial to the event.

“We are lucky to be in such an amazing and supportive Panhellenic and Greek system,” she said.

Zeta Tau Alpha will continue to fundraise for its breast cancer cause for the rest of October in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Currently, it is collecting pink Yoplait lids in all NYU dorms.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Oct. 17 print edition. Nicole Gartside is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].