Contestants in the annual Mr. Harvard Pageant perform a striptease on Friday night in Sanders Theatre. Gordon Kraft-Todd ’07 of Currier House was eventually crowned Mr. Harvard.

While many students buckled down to study for upcoming finals last weekend, some Harvard men spent last Friday night parading in bathing suits, shaking scantily-clad behinds to the tunes of Britney Spears, and performing a racy striptease.

As part of the second annual Mr. Harvard Pageant, 13 Harvard hunks strutted their stuff in front of a packed audience of about 280 in the Science Center.

According to the event’s co-host Joseph P. Torella ’08, who is also a Crimson editor, the event raised about $1,200 for Cambridge Student Partnerships (CSP)—an organization that provides social services for local homeless and low-income individuals.

Gordon T. Kraft-Todd ’07 took the coveted Mr. Harvard trophy and crown home to Currier House, outstripping first runner-up John “Jack” P. McCambridge ’06 of Winthrop House and second runner-up John “Pat” P. Coyne ’07 of Quincy House.

Ten Houses, along with each the three Freshman yards, nominated a pageant competitor. Eliot and Pforzheimer, due to complications, did not send contestants.

Several Houses sent large contingents of vocal supporters to cheer on their nominees—Winthrop residents even brought along a canine mascot to escort McCambridge down the aisle during the formal-wear competition.

But Mather residents, who were among the loudest audience members, were disappointed that their nominee did not place in the top three.

Former Mr. Mather, Paul H. Hersh ’04, took home the Mr. Harvard trophy last year.

John “Sam” S. Workman ’07—this year’s Mr. Mather—said that Matherites are recovering well from their defeat.

“They were pretty bummed and sent out some e-mails over the open list about how we got robbed. But there are no hard feelings—I think we’re taking it well,” Workman said.

Contestants were judged in swimwear, talent, and formal-wear competitions.

Leslie A. Barkett ’08, the winner of the singing contest “Harvard Idol,” Undergraduate Council President Matthew J. Glazer ’06, and long-time CSP volunteer Patricia K. Foo ’05 served as judges.

Glazer, who said that he enjoyed his role in the pageant, explained in an e-mail that judges gave contestants points following each performance, and tallied these points to determine the winner.

Competitors went to great lengths to catch each judge’s eye.

Coyne, who is also a Crimson editor, pranced down the aisle wearing only clear tape and sparsely-distributed red rose-petals during the swimsuit competition.