Then & Now – Event Planning for Toronto’s Longest Running Bikini Pageant

This past June, CHIN Radio wrapped up their 49th Annual CHIN Picnic – and notorious bikini competition! What first started out as an all female competition in 1966, CHIN expanded the competition about 25 years ago to incorporate men as well. How we wish we could say that we’ve been doing the event planning for almost 50 years, none of us at Tigris were born until the 80’s! However, in 2004, CHIN Radio teamed up with Tigris to coordinate and manage event planning for the competition; so here we are, over a decade later.

As the official event planners for the competition, Tigris is there from beginning to end. From recruiting potential contestants, to crowning / medalling the winners, we do it all!

Hence the name, CHIN Bikini, many people think that the competition is based solely on bikini bodies and physical fitness alone – but that’s simply not true. Competitors are scored on their physical attributes but what many people don’t know is that there are many other factors that the contestants are judged on which we’ll review below.

Miss and Mr. CHIN contestants are scored on //

1. Interview: This is probably one of the most important judging factors. This is where we get to see the contestants’ personalities shine. We ask questions to get to know them better and to make sure that the potential winner has what it takes to be a good representative, and ultimately, spokesperson, for CHIN Radio. Judging is based on originality, depth and unique answers. This score counts towards 30% of their final mark.
2. Pre-Promotional Events: Sounds like fun, right? How can contestants be judged on having fun? Well, let’s just say that timing is everything. It is extremely important for contestants to arrive on time and prepared to each event they attend. Whether it be live on City TV, CHIN Radio’s Media Party, or rehearsals, each minute counts and goes towards the contestants’ scoring. All contestants start with a score of 10. They will lose a half mark every time they are late, 1 point for missing an event with notice and 2 points for missing an event with no notice.
   
3. Online Voting: Bikini time! This is probably the contestant’s favourite part of the process (besides the final show). This year, CHIN Radio & Tigris teamed up with C Bella Photos to capture the contestants’ best looks to promote them for online voting. Once the photos go live on CHIN Radio’s website, it is up to each contestant to promote themselves, the competition, and to get as many people to vote for them! The online voting is then added up for each person and accounts for 10% of their overall score. Contestants receive scores in groups based on their marks and will receive 7, 8, 9 or 10% in this category out of 10% total.

Revamping the Event Planning for Miss & Mr. CHIN Bikini 2015’s Final Show

Of course, the final factor that contestants are judged on is their performance and presentation during the final show – worth 50% of their overall score.

This year’s final show was a lot different from the last 48 shows, but we’ll get back to that. Hundreds of people attended this year’s show, including the contestants, media, photographers, judges, sponsors, and of course, CHIN Radio & Tigris. This is when the contestants have the chance to strut their stuff the best they can and live in the lime light for a few minutes.

Since June has been a super busy month for the city of Toronto with so many events happening – and with Johnny Lombardi’s Centennial Year (100th Birthday), CHIN bumped the show up by one week to coincide with Taste of Little Italy AND to bring the CHIN Picnic back to it’s roots on College St., where everything began.

For the last 25 years, the Miss & Mr. CHIN Bikini competition was held at the CHIN Picnic over Canada Day long weekend on the CNE grounds. This year, just down the street from CHIN Radio’s head office on College Street, our final show took place at Revival Bar. While much smaller than the Exhibition Place’s bandshell stage, this year’s show gave off much more of an intimate setting, and the crowd really had the chance to connect with each competitor.

We had a an absolute blast, yet again, working through the event planning for this spectacular show. Congrats to Francesco Bartucci on winning the title of Mr. CHIN 2015 & Deanna Graci on Miss. CHIN 2015! And of course, a BIG thanks to our sponsors who’ve helped recruit and donated prizing for the contestants.

We can’t wait to share our event planning skills with you next year for the 50th Annual Miss & Mr. CHIN Bikini Competition!