The beauty pageant for over-60s
For the incredible ladies of the Ms Senior Arizona pageant, competing is about so much more than a metal tiara. The pageant has spent the last 27 years celebrating friendship, experience and beauty at any age.
There are no questions about solutions for world peace or swimsuit competitions. Although the women may don elegant evening dresses, the focus is not on the glimmer of their gowns, but the sparkle in the personalities. They are required to exhibit one of their talents — whether it’s tap dancing, singing or performing a monologue — and most importantly, sum up their life philosophy.
The women must be over 60 to participate, and they’ve had contestants well into their 90s.
“So many of them have raised families, had careers, and gone through all kinds of things,” executive director Herme Sherry told The Huffington Post. Sherry, a former pageant winner herself, says. “They are so excited about doing something for themselves now, because they’ve spent their lives doing things for others.”
The proceeds from the event ticket sales go to a charity that supports survivors of domestic violence and the winner gets the honour of representing Arizona in the national competition, Ms. Senior America, later this year. The Ms. Senior America pageants have been around since 1971, but still remain largely unknown. We can’t think of how its remained such a big secret, when it looks this incredible. Scroll through the gallery above to see the images of these beautiful women who shine with class and elegance.
What do you think, time for New Zealand to launch their own?
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