Long Island Man Wins Ugliest Holiday Sweater Challenge

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It turns out that ugly holiday sweater hidden in the back of your closet is good for something more than just a laugh.

New Yorkers and others took the ugliest holiday sweater challenge on Tuesday for a chance to win a weekend in the Flatiron District.

Contestants donned their most hideous or humorous holiday sweaters and strutted their stuff on the catwalk for an hour at public plaza near the Flatiron Building at Fifth Avenue and East 23rd Street.

John Friia of Malverne won over the crowd and took home the grand prize for his sweater which consisted of a mixture of colors with a holiday feel.

"My sweater is green, red, brown, black, purple -- it has all colors," the 20-year-old Friia told 1010 WINS. "Put that into one shirt, it makes really one ugly shirt."

Friia had some fierce competition, but prevailed after going into sudden death with a contestant who made her own sweater.

"People were telling me that my dance moves were pretty good and that's what put me over," Friia said.

Friia will get a two-night stay at the Mave Hotel, as well as $100 gift cards to O'Live Organic Spa and Green Square Tavern.

The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership hosted the contest.