After witnessing his mother experience domestic violence when he was a child, Alexander Vicuña Perez understood the importance of speaking out and standing up against what has long been considered a taboo issue.
“I knew I had to take things into my own hands and try to do something for my mom because she was just too scared at the time,” the second-year student at the University of Washington (UW) said. “When you’re in that position, I think it feels like you can’t do anything.”
On Feb. 27, the university’s Latin Sorority Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA) hosted its 15th annual “Big Man On Campus” event (BMOC) at Kane Hall—marking the sorority’s largest and most anticipated event of the year.
The male pageant is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence and encourage men to take the lead in the conversation.
The proceeds collected from ticket sales and the event’s “Dash for Cash” were donated to the Seattle YWCA to support its anti-domestic violence programs.
Vicuña Perez was crowned this year’s BMOC winner. He said he was inspired to participate after attending last year’s event.
Daniel Khani recites a poem he wrote about his father. Khani said that he doesn’t normally participate in events like Big Man On Campus, but when he was asked to enter, he saw it as a great opportunity to step out of his comfort zone.
Photography: Ayla Nye
Alexander Vicuña Perez starts his performance off by playing a soft melody on his clarinet and after a quick-change he gives an energetic hip hop performance. Vicuña Perez said he wanted to surprise the audience with his contrasting acts.
Photography: Ayla Nye
“It was kind of near to my heart just because growing up, I was in a domestic violence household,” he said. “I remembered what I would see my mother go through and the fact that she still had to, like, be a mom and put on a brave face for me and my younger siblings.”
Vicuña Perez said he hopes his participation in BMOC will encourage other men to act.
“It’s very important for men to really speak up and initiate that conversation, just because it opens up a new demographic that, you know, isn’t used to really speaking about it,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for them to learn more about the topic–to learn more ways that they can combat the issue.”
Jasmin Rubalcava, vice president of LTA, said that months of planning go into BMOC, with preparations starting at the beginning of the school year and continuing until the day of the event. This year, the Samuel Ethnic Cultural Center and the Husky Union Building funded BMOC.
“Not only is it a fun way to bring awareness, but also, it’s just amazing to see the community come together all in support of this event,” Rubalcava said.
The pageant featured a performance, runway walk, and interviews.
Alongside Vicuña Perez, three other contestants vied for the title, showcasing their unique cultures, talents, and personalities.
Although the pageant was closely tied to Latino culture, students of all different backgrounds were encouraged to enter.
Daniel Khani, a third-year student at UW, said he chose to recite a poem for his talent because poetry is significant in his family’s Iranian culture.
Khani said his poem was meant to reflect the domestic violence he experienced during his childhood.
“I just wanted to write something about my feelings towards my experience, kind of like a letter to my dad and how I felt about everything,” he said.
Khani saw this year’s pageant as an opportunity to work through his feelings while also supporting others who have endured similar experiences.
“I’m hoping a lot of growth comes from this,” he said.
UW Lambda Theta Alpha president Allison Santos Rodriguez (on the left) and Lambda Theta Alpha secretary Estefanie Garcia (on the right) pose for a photo minutes before the Big Man On Campus event starts. Garcia played a key role in organizing 2025 Big Man On Campus, acting as this year’s event lead.
Photography: Ayla Nye
The Big Man On Campus judges intently listen to the contestants during the interview portion of the pageant. Sitting on the far is Dr. Kristian Jones, an assistant professor at UW School of Social Work; in the middle is Edgar Quiroz, a graduate student in child & adolescent psychology at UW; and on the far left is Ruth Adame, medical department coordinator at Sea Mar.
Photography: Ayla Nye
During the runway walk, contestants showed off outfits inspired by this year’s theme, Lotería.
Lotería is a traditional Mexican board game of chance. Each of the 54 cards in the deck represents a symbol or caricature of Mexican history and culture.
Carlos Pacheco, a fourth-year at UW, dressed as the El Valiente card, representing bravery.
On stage, he explained that for him, bravery means embracing vulnerability, especially when addressing topics like domestic violence.
“What does bravery really look like? I think we can all really be brave in ourselves, we don’t have to look a certain type of way,” Pacheco said. “One of the strongest things that a man can do is know when to give up their crown.”
Pacheco said that he was inspired to compete in this year’s pageant by the strong women in his life, including his mother, grandmother, and younger sisters.
“I thought of, you know, my little sister–she’s currently a freshman here at UW, so it’d be like a cool Big Brother moment,” he said.
A UW LTA alumni, Ruth Adame was one of this year’s judges.
Having coordinated past BMOC pageants, Adame said she was “proud” to be involved in this year’s event.
Going into the competition, she said that she was looking for key qualities in the contestants that, in her opinion, embodied the title of BMOC.
“I really just want someone that is not afraid to challenge societal norms. I think that’s something that’s really powerful. But beyond that someone that’s not afraid to put on a show. Like, someone that’s willing to step out of their comfort zone and really make the most out of the pageant,” she said.
Vicuña Perez said that his identity as a queer Latino individual inspired his outfit for the interview portion of the event. He wore a suit and high-heeled boots, which, he noted, are not typically worn by men.
“I like dressing like that because I get to showcase who I am to the world. But also, I think it’s important to reflect that confident image and be unapologetically myself,” he said.
Apart from being able to express himself, Vicuña Perez said that BMOC was ultimately a way for him to honor his mother.
“I really want to win for her and for all the women and children who have to go through these kinds of things,” he said.
Ayla Nye (she/her) is a senior at the University of Washington studying Journalism and Public Interest Communications and Political Science. She is passionate about uplifting community voices through her storytelling and hopes to pursue a career in arts and culture journalism.