Beauty Pageants for Senior Women for 2002

They do not get much national attention but we have found at least three beauty pageants for senior-age women that were held in 2002. One was crowned in Biloxi, one in Fall River and the third in Dubuque. It's not exactly the big time but the reports read like everyone had fun. And, the winners (pictures below) with their stories are certainly attractive.

Texan Wins Ms. Senior America

On Nov. 16, 2002, the Biloxi Sun Herald had a short news report saying Ms. Senior Texas - Mary Virginia Tuinstra - was named Ms. Senior America during the final round of that pageant at the Imperial Palace casino in Biloxi on Friday, Nov. 15. Babs Hawks, Ms. Senior Arizona, was reported to be first runner-up.

Awards were presented by Dorcas Preston, Ms. Senior America 2001, and Ethel Bennett, pageant director.

Another award mentioned in the Sun Herald was the fifth annual Louise J. Konze Prize to Ms. Senior Georgia, Jayne Barker, for her 6,200 hours of volunteer work at the Gateway Cottage Substance abuse recovery center. The Konze foundation has donated $50,000 over the last five years in honor of participants in the pageant who volunteer for children-related charities.

Mary Virginia is from Dallas, Texas. She is a member of the Dallas Opera Company and the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the T Bar M Tennis Club, the Holland America Club and the Methodist Church. Ms Tuinstra's special interests include music, singing, modeling, tennis, floral arrangements, gardening and her grandchildren. Mary's volunteer work involves work with the National Governor's Board of American Guild of Musical Artists, Houston Grand Opera in the Dallas School System and Feeding the Homeless Ministries. Ms Tuinstra will perform an operatic presentation during the Ms Senior America Pageant during the talent portion of the show. Mary's sponsor is the Holistic Health Care Center, the Ms Texas Senior America Pageant and the Abilene Office on Aging.

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Ms. Senior Sweetheart Crowned in Fall River

By Munroe Dijon, The Herald News, Fall River MA

Nov. 4, 2002 - At the end of it, after 10 days of rehearsal, after interviews and dance numbers and the evening wear competition, Juanita Cross hugged a bunch of roses to her chest and cried.

"I can't believe it," Cross said, sobbing. "I've never been a queen."

Cross, 75, of South Boston, Va., had knocked the judges and the crowd off their feet with a bluesy, dead-on version of "Stormy Monday." She was the new Ms. Senior Sweetheart, beating 21 other entrants for the crown.

Five runners-up shared her glory: fifth runner-up Brenda Sexton of Kentucky; fourth runner-up Isabelle Mahoney of Nevada; third runner-up Virginia Freeman of Virginia; second runner-up Beverly Sherrod of Michigan; and first runner-up Tamara Swihart of Michigan.

The pageant, now in its 24th year and national in scope, is the brainchild and lifelong dream of "Low Price" Lenny Kaplan, a former owner of Army Navy stores who dreamed up the contest and promotes it still, serving as the pageant's master of ceremonies.

Though the final stage was held Sunday afternoon in the Nagle Auditorium at B.M.C. Durfee High School, this year's pageant began Thursday in New Bedford's Zeiterion Theater, where the pageant's talent show took place.

On Saturday, the contestants completed the interview portion of the pageant, answering questions posed by judges during a session held in the downtown headquarters of the Fall River Five Cents Savings Bank, one of the pageant's major sponsors.

By Sunday, all that remained were two musical production numbers, the evening gown competition, and talent displays from the 12 contestants who placed highest in New Bedford.

All the contestants came out singing in the first production number, wearing 1920s-style dresses and putting a lot of hip into the old rhythm and blues standard "Flip, Flop and Fly."

"What a bunch of great ladies," is the first thing Kaplan said to the audience. "Let's hear it for them."

Kaplan never stays dry-eyed for very long at a pageant, and this year he was misty-eyed over Roland Caron, the late centenarian whose Maurice Chevalier impersonation was dead on and beloved at past pageants.

"I know he's smiling down on us," Kaplan said.

The show went quickly as the ladies displayed a variety of talents.

Fall River's own Marion Gagnon had rows upon rows of supporters amongst the 500-plus crowd, and her tap dance to "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy," brought in waves of applause, as did Nealor Green's "Christian rap," and the Betty Boop impersonation by Swihart.

It was Kaplan who reminded the audience that Ms Senior Sweetheart offers something other pageants don't.

"Read the biographies of these 22 ladies," Kaplan said. "There are stories there you'd never hear at younger pageants."

At the end, it was just 22 nervous women sitting in a half-circle, awaiting the verdict while perennial Kaplan accompanist Dave Nadien played a few runs on the piano.

When it was done and Cross looked up to heaven with tear-dimmed eyes, the other contestants hastened to crowd around her throne, straightening her sash and sharing her tears of joy.

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Ms. American Classic Woman Winner From Georgia

Sept. 16, 2002 - Avis Fox was thrilled to hear “Georgia” announced from the Emcee’s lips at the 2003 Ms. American Classic Woman Pageant held in Dubuque, Iowa on September 15, 2002. “Just being named as a Finalist at the National Pageant was more than I had hoped for, let alone being named Ms. American Classic!” said the 69 year-old Atlanta resident. Emerging with the title from a tremendously talented and remarkable group of Senior women from across the country was quite an achievement for someone who initially entered the pageant for “fun”. In her first interview with the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Ms. Fox explained her statement of principle. “To live life fully as a Senior and to celebrate AGE at any age is my goal.” Fox defines AGE as A-activity G-gratitude and E-experience. The mission of the pageant is to promote “Positive Seniorhood”.

For the Talent portion, Ms. Fox utilized her love of dancing and developed a jazz dance, replete with a red-feathered costume, to the Ray Stevens’ version of “In the Mood” which features chickens clucking the tune. The audience was in stitches!

Other categories of judging included Evening Gown, Statement of Principle and both a private Interview with a panel of judges and an Onstage Interview with the Emcee. The pageant theme was a “Dreamer’s Holiday” and featured contestants stepping out of a dream from a foggy backdrop in the Evening Gown portion. Ms. Fox elegantly emerged in a beaded periwinkle blue fitted gown which elicited gasps from the audience. When interviewed onstage she mentioned her Norwegian heritage with a “You betcha, sure!” which drew laughter from the mostly Midwest crowd.

Avis Fox is well-known locally for her acting in Georgia lottery commercials as the back-flipping granny and is a “despicable” in the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable as well as a regional storyteller and member of the Dunwoody Toastmasters.

As Ms. American Classic Woman Avis Fox will not relinquish her role as Ms. Senior Georgia but will continue to speak or perform for groups or organizations and especially enjoys performing “Class Act” talent showcases with members of the Georgia Classic Club, a sisterhood of former contestants in the Ms. Senior Georgia Pageant. For more information about Ms. American Classic, Ms. Senior Georgia or the Georgia Classic Club contact Connie C. Rosenthal, State Director P.O. Box 70192 Marietta, GA 30007-0192 or call (770) 518-6421.

Runners-up included Rubye Jones – Delaware, Charlye Heggins – Texas, and Cozette Nowak – South Carolina.

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