Alumnus Denton Mallas sparkles on Netflix’s Queer Eye

Denton Mallas, ’13 & G-’15, appeared on Season 8, Episode 4 of Netflix’s popular Queer Eye show last month. The show’s cast (the “Fab Five”) worked with Mallas to increase his self-confidence and give him a makeover. This episode was one of the most-watched of the current season.  

Mallas, currently Athletic Director and Dean of Students at the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge, “talked up” the school, saying in an interview with Queer Eye grooming expert Jonathan van Ness, “Here, there are role models where the students can look up [to] and learn from those role models who are going through the same, or have gone through the same thing that they are experiencing.”  

Mallas was nominated for his appearance on the show by Dr. Natalie Delgado, ’13, executive director of LSD. Says Delgado, “We are so proud to have our school featured on Queer Eye, and for the world to know about the dedication and care that our team members, like Denton Mallas, bring to our students daily. On behalf of LSD, I thank Netflix for bringing our school into the spotlight. This has given us the opportunity to garner more community support and spread awareness about how incredibly special Deaf schools are.”

Thanks to Queer Eye, the LSD athletics facility has a new locker room and concession stand, a mural with Mallas’ catchphrase, “Protect the Nest,” and other capital improvements. LSD has also received a large number of donations via the LSD Foundation.

Mallas was a defensive back on the Gallaudet University football team from 2009 to 2012. Gallaudet had a team record of 23-17 during his four seasons on the team. At the time, Mallas was one of two players in school history to be named to the ECFC All-Academic team for three consecutive years. He was also a 2012 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete nominee. A history major, he graduated cum laude in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and earned his master’s degree in deaf education two years later. He was a graduate assistant for the football team in 2013 and 2014.