One of the best-loved and most iconic Relay for Life fundraisers Suffolk has ever had is back this year.

The 12th annual Womanless Beauty Pageant by the Nansemond River Pilot Club will be held April 28. Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased in advance.

The male contestants will compete in casual wear, evening wear, talent and interview competitions. The guests will be sure to get a show — and dinner to boot.

“It’s a great time; it’s great food; it’s a wonderful cause; it’s just a nice, fun evening all the way around,” said Susan Blair, a Pilot Club member who helps coordinate the show.

The pageant is looking for a few more contestants to round out the lineup. There are some perks — like free dinner — but many of the contestants do it out of the goodness of their hearts, Blair said.

“A lot of people do it because they’ve had a mother die or sister die or grandmother die of cancer,” Blair said.

The pageant committee can help with ideas for the talent portion, she added.

“We’ve had people dance, lip-synch, read poetry, tell jokes, hula-hoop,” she said. “The best talent is to have no talent, because that makes for a better show.”

For the interview portion of the competition, the contestants answer all the questions beforehand and then the master of ceremonies, US106’s Dave Parker, picks which question he will ask each contestant on stage.

“Once people get up there and do it, they really get into it,” said Blair, whose husband has been a contestant twice. “You see the response of the audience, and it gets you motivated.”

The show raises money through ticket sales, contestants’ tip buckets and a silent auction.

“All the money and all the proceeds go directly to American Cancer Society,” Blair said.

The event will be held at the National Guard Armory. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. The deadline to purchase them is April 26 at 5 p.m. Roy and Ricky’s Catering is providing the dinner.

To sign up as a contestant or to get your ticket, call Suffolk Insurance at 539-9988 and ask for Susan, Becky or Nancy.

The Suffolk Rockin’ Relay for Life will be held May 18-19 at Bennett’s Creek Park. For more information, visit www.suffolkrockinrelay.org.