Mallory Mayeux never thought she would be known as the “Booty Shake Girl,” but the nickname might stick since she shook her stuff on national TV for millions of people to see.
Mayeux, a mass communication sophomore, appeared on the Fox TV show American Idol Jan. 21. She performed The Pointer Sisters’ song, “I’m So Excited.”
She does not consider herself a good singer, and her success in the first two rounds convinced her the show’s producers are looking for shock value rather than talent.
Her original intention simply was to go to the Houston try-outs for moral support for her friend Jamie Ducote, a pre-veterinary medicine sophomore.
Ducote’s dream is to be a singer, and he is a better one than Mayeux in her opinion.
“I’ve always sung at festivals,” he said. “I begged Mallory to do it with me.”
But judges cut Ducote and sent Mayeux on to the third round. She said she thinks they knew she would make a scene for the cameras.
“In my eyes it’s not really a singing contest,” she said. “I wasn’t taking it seriously.”
Whether or not she took it seriously, America got a dose of Mayeux and her dance moves.
With some strategic moves of the derriere, Mayeux earned the “booty” label.
As she sang for the show’s celebrity judges, Mayeux raised her arms into the air, turned her hips toward the judges and shimmied as she bent toward the floor.
American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest summed up Mayeux’s performance with one statement:
“Maybe Houston wasn’t ready for that much booty.”
The show’s judges were no more compassionate than Seacrest and slammed Mayeux immediately after she stopped singing.
“You can’t sing at all,” Judge Randy Jackson said.
Judge Simon Cowell, notorious for making contestants cry, said calling Mayeux a “mediocre” singer would be the best compliment she has ever been paid.
Even Paula Abdul, who often appears to be the most soft-hearted judge, had no kind words for Mayeux on the show. She said the show was for singers, not dancers.
“You relied on shaking your booty,” Abdul said. “You picked a song called ‘I’m So Excited,’ and it was so lackluster.”
Two East Campus Apartment roommates who watched a videotaped version of Mayeux’s episode were as unimpressed as the celebrity judges.
“I’m not going to be mean, but Mallory could use some training,” said Emily Singleton, a creative writing senior.
Brittany Bowser, a general studies junior, was concerned about outside perceptions about the University.
“I think it’s an embarrassment for the University,” she said.
The auditioning process stank for the two University contestants — literally.
Contestants practiced, performed and slept — many without showers — for several days as they anticipated their appearances before judges at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.
Ducote described the experience as sleeping “in nacho cheese” around “cranky” people.
Mayeux decided she would go ahead and compete since she was waiting and without anything else to do.
Judges cut Ducote after the first round, and he and Mayeux both were shocked that she made the first and second cuts since she does not want to be a singer.
“I was a little jealous,” Ducote said. “But I’m glad at least one of us made it.”
Even with the “humiliating” scenes that she felt were somewhat staged, Mayeux does not regret the experience.
“I kind of enjoyed it,” she said. “This is surreal — it doesn’t happen in everyday life.”
Mayeux didn’t mind getting close to Seacrest either.
“He’s such a hottie,” she said. “I’m a girl, so this is so unbearably amazing.”