ISU men are strutting their stuff tonight to raise money for the Asian Pacific American Awareness Coalition.

The group is sponsoring a Hottie Contest, similar to a male beauty pageant and talent show, at 7:30 tonight in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $17 at the door. The contest will be followed by a concert from Innerlude, an Asian-American pop band, and a dance party.

This is the second year for the event, which drew about 400 people from different parts of Iowa and surrounding states, said Donechanh Inthalangsy, president of APAAC, and the group hopes to have about 600 people at the event.

Inthalangsy said the night is meant to raise awareness of the diversity at Iowa State, and the proceeds will go toward the Asian Heritage Celebration in March.

“If we can open people’s eyes to different cultures and ways of thinking after this event we have done a good job,” said Inthalangsy, junior in marketing.

The Hottie Contest will feature contestants from Des Moines and Iowa State. APAAC will be accepting contestants until the event starts, Inthalangsy said. Prizes are $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. Awards will be based on the audience’s response to each contestant.

Innerlude, which will be performing after the contest, has become a hot group in the Asian community, Inthalangsy said. The band, which just released a new CD, is from San Jose, Calif. and has performed with Destiny’s Child, Mya and ‘NSync.

“This is the only chance many people have to see an Asian-American pop band,” Inthalangsy said. “It’s something you won’t see everyday in Iowa; it’s culturally different.”

Anita Van Lo, vice president of APAAC, said the dance party at the end is “a time for all people to get together and get to know one another and interact with people.”

Van Lo, freshman in pre-business, said she hopes the event raises awareness of the Asian community on campus.

“We want to teach the public about us,” she said. “We bring diversity to the campus and other groups should be aware of us.”