The University of Central Arkansas had the chance to witness the crowning of the first Mr. Rose April 14 at 7:13 p.m. 

The event took place at the Ida Waldron Auditorium where the members of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc. (SIA) hosted their first pageant. 

“This pageant was a pageant that the girls had planned for over four months and it took a lot of hard work to plan, but I think it turned out great and I’m excited to see what the girls will do next year,” SIA President Mariana Beltran said. 

Doors opened at 6:30pm but around 6:15pm family and friends of the four contestants were already lining up for the pageant. 

The entry for the pageant was $3 or three canned food items and this went toward the voting for Mr.Community Service. 

The pageant started with hispanic music and once the judges were in their places the event started. 

The pageant had three judges, Travis Johnston, Alicia and Jaziel Martinez. 

Each judge had to choose for People’s choice, Mr. 1990 or community service, Best Talent and Mr. Rose. 

The pageant started with introducing the contestants and where they are from and their classification. 

The contestants were Joaquin Ambriz from DeQueen, Arkansas, Xay McLennan from Little Rock, Greg Gable from Pine Bluff and Chance Stewart from Benton, Arkansas and they were all running to be Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Incorporada’s first Mr. Rose. 

Up next was the talent portion where Ambriz showed off his painting skills, McLennan played the cello, Gable did a stand-up comedy routine and Stewart sang “Die on the Hill.” 

After the talent portion the contestants had to get ready for the fitting portion of the pageant. While the audience waited, the SIA members brought out an intermission which was a dance from UCA Alumna Mia Johnston, who is now part of the Gamma Mu Arkansas Chapter and also one of the advisors of the Beta Kappa SIA Chapter. 

Johnston said, “I love to dance and being able to dance at the first Mr.Rose my own sorority did was a feeling that you can’t imagine.” 

The SIA women cheered for their advisor and celebrated backstage with her once she finished her performances. 

The contestants then walked the stage while showing their outfits and now closer to announcing who was going to win the Mr. Rose crown. 

The SIA women started by giving out the awards each contestant won and with a drum roll Chance Stewart was crowned 2026 Mr. Rose. 

The pageant ended with Chance Stewart being crowned and given a sash and trophy and the members of SIA allowed the audience to come up on stand and take pictures with the contestants. 

Steward said that he has lots of plans with SIA and said he hopes to see a collaboration between SIA and UCA SGA, which he is part of in the next school year.

Steward said he plans to attend SIA events, help in fundraisers and help Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Incorporada grow as a sorority.