A police officer made the list, along with a graduate student, several attorneys and a man who describes himself as a celebrity bodyguard. Twenty men, ranging in age from 24 to 41, were revealed as semifinalists Thursday in the One Man Minneapolis contest. The winner, to be announced at an event July 18, will win $5,000 and a $1,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
Though it has many trappings of a male beauty contest, organizer Scott Mayer said the One Man Minneapolis contestants are being evaluated on four factors: fitness/style, intelligence, personality and community involvement.
The semifinalists designated charities ranging from the Courage Center and Big Brothers/Big Sisters to Open Arms of Minnesota.
"We had 230 applicants, and among them there were only two charities that were mentioned more than once," Mayer said. "To me, that shows the amazing range of civic-mindedness in the Twin Cities."
Men vying for the title had to be between ages 24 and 44 and live in the seven-county metro area.
People may see photos and profiles of the semifinalists at OneManMinneapolis.com and vote online for their favorite. A series of events between now and mid-July will offer a chance to meet the semifinalists in person. Five finalists will be presented July 18 at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, where audience members can text-message their picks for the winner. A panel of seven judges also will weigh in on the final decision, Mayer said.
Claude Peck • 612-673-7977
