Mona Lisa took the spotlight, excited and slobbery, and dashed across the runway sporting snow goggles and an army harness. She erupted with energy and jumped to the judge’s table on hind legs, giving her caboose a little shake.
“Now that’s a wiggly butt!” cheered one of the pageant judges.
She climbed down from the table. And then down off the stage. And right back up again. A pause for the judges and off the runway to make room for the next bully.
Across from the buzzing of tattoo artists, Mona Lisa and nine other bulldogs took to the runway to show off their cute outfits, run around and be adorable for a chance to win prizes at the second annual “Super Bully Bowl,” in Blue Lake on Feb. 10.
The Super Bully Bowl is a French and English bulldog pageant hosted by Inked Hearts’ Tattoo Expo at Blue Lake Casino. Kayla Corder, marketing supervisor for casino said she started the event last year. “I wanted to bring an interesting event,” Cordor said.
This year, Cordor invited two members from the Sequoia Humane Society, an animal shelter in Eureka, and Gary Walters from Medford, Oregon who runs the world famous Duncan Lou Who social media channels to be the judges for the pageant show.
Of the different categories to win from, participants could win handsome, most pretty, most friendly, best smile, most slobbery and best butt wiggle.
As the event started, 10 bulldogs of different coats and breeds and accessories were scattered throughout the tattoo expo. Some dogs were chill, some dogs were freaked out, and some were very curious. Some were huge, some were tiny.
2-year-old Belle sported a brown coat and a leopard print bandana with matching leash. “She takes regular bubble baths,” said owner Callista Stanwood.
A pair of twins made up most of the total dog volume ratio. Frieda, 95 pounds, and Robin Thicke Williams, 80 pounds are two 4-year-old alapaha blue blood bulldogs owned by Zuleika Navarro and were very patient, albeit panting heavily.
As the dogs and their owners did their performance and the event winded down to deliberation, the mood of “Baby got Back” by Sir Mix-a-lot resonated in the casino hall.
Gary Walters wrapped up the judging with a story about Duncan, who had survived two cardiac arrests and a car accident. Walters said he wants to share duncan’s story and message to everyone. “His will to live is beyond imaginable,” Walters said.
A proverbial “yaaaas” replied from someone in the crowd.
The host stood up preparing for the announcement of winners. “We have best butt wiggle… and that is going to go… to Mona Lisa!”
The crowd cheered and listened to the rest of the prize winners.
6-month-old Prince and 14-month-old Stax were two of the prize winners at the pageant, claiming “most handsome” and “most slobbery” respectively. The two belong to the Young family who entered them in their first pageant.
“Me and Prince felt nervous on stage” said Aubrey Young. When the host announced the prize winners, Young climbed up the stage with prince and chose her goodie box. “I chose the bowl with tons of treats,” she said.
“We came to support the [Sequoia] humane society and it’s something cool to do with the family,” Aubrey’s dad Jeff Young said. Young said they hope to enter in future contests. “We’ll be back for sure,” Young said.
Michael Weber 