"The Age of Elegance"
Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant
Do you love Arkansas? Are you a woman 60+? Do you want to help dispel the myths of aging?
If you answered yes to these questions, then the Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant is for you!
The Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant is not a beauty pageant. Our pageant champions healthy aging, wellness, and mental well-being, and our contestants exemplify the “positive image of aging.” We are redefining the senior woman by motivating and encouraging them to utilize their full potential. We honor senior women 60+ with our pageant, giving the contestants a platform to demonstrate their dignity, maturity, inner beauty, and talents.
2024 Pageant Info
When?
June 22,2024
2:00 p.m.
Where?
King Opera House
427 Main Street
Van Buren, AR
72956
All Are welcome to attend and We hope you will join us!
The Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant has been held since 1988 and is a preliminary pageant to the Ms. Senior America Pageant held in Atlantic City, N.J.. Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant, Inc., follows all the rules and guidelines of Ms. Senior America. The winner of the
Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant advances to compete for the title of Ms. Senior America.
The Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant is a volunteer-led event held over three days. Contestants arrive on Thursday before the Pageant, which is held on Saturday for a meet and greet. Friday is a fun-filled day with many fun events scheduled and rehearsals. Saturday begins with an interview with the judges, and the Pageant starts promptly at 2:00 p.m.
Contestants are judged in four categories: interview, talent, philosophy of life, and evening gown.
For more information on becoming a contestant or sponsor, contact Administrator Sherry Marshall at ms.arsramericapageant@yahoo.com, call 479.651.0137 or visit facebook @ profile.php?id=61552267951365
Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Donors can deduct contributions under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 170. We are also qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under Sections 2055, 2106, or 2522.
All donations go to the production of the local pageant and sending our queen to the national pageant. All officers and queens are volunteers.
2023 Judges
Our distinguished panel of Judges is chosen annually by the state directors. Integrity is the number one quality required to serve on the panel.
Each Judge comes highly recommended, is interviewed, and thoroughly vetted. Their character, résumés, and understanding of our mission provide complete confidence in their ability to represent with excellence every phase of the Ms. Arkansas Senior America competition. Different Judges are chosen each year and will not be repeated. Their decisions are their own and are final.
Meet the Officers
Ms. Donna Kingston, Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2012
Paragould
I was privileged to become Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2012. Not only did I make lifelong friends, but I had the opportunity in my travels in the states of AR, TX, OK, and Atlantic City, NJ, to represent my home state. Numerous people would ask me about the pageant and about AR. Of course, I was glad to share. I and other past queens and pageant contestants performed for various venues such as retirement homes, churches, state fairs, and senior centers. Those experiences have made me much more aware of opportunities for service in AR and my local community. They have brought new life to this 60+ lady.
Ms. Judy Fisher, Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2010
Rector
I was encouraged to enter the Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant by Judith Burgess, Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2008, and I’m so glad she kept on until I did. This Pageant is representative of “the age of elegance,” and as an older woman, we have so much to offer the younger people, our community, and Arkansas. This pageant has made me a more confident person and was such a rewarding experience. It’s not so much about winning but about the wonderful relations you build through the friends you make from such a diverse group of ladies.
Dr. Margaret Pace, Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2022
Little Rock
The Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant is such a fabulous opportunity for women who are 60 and above to showcase their talents, their Philosophy of Life statements, and represent “dignity, maturity, and inner beauty” to the judges and audience at large at the pageant. This pageant has allowed me to meet other Women of Elegance across the country, all with so much in common, especially being 60 years and above. It’s the best sisterhood with purpose as we empower, encourage, and support each other on our journey. I have gained such liberty in sharing my age with people because we have this in common. This platform has given me so many open doors to meet and serve people in different age groups and in different ways. It’s been life-changing for me.
Ms. Sherry Marshall, Administrator and Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2017
Uniontown
Not being a “pageant girl,” I am so glad I listened to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the encouragement of Lori Oliver to enter the pageant. I was alive, but at the age of 65, I “came to life”! I became confident in who I am as a person. As Ms. Arkansas Senior America 2017, I was able to share about our great state of Arkansas as I traveled not only in Arkansas, but to Oklahoma, Missouri, and New Jersey. I read to, mentored, and entertained students in elementary, middle, junior high, and high school. I attended parades, spoke to various community organizations, and entertained and worked with seniors in retirement centers. I am able to encourage people of all ages to reach beyond their comfort zones and be all that they can be. The Ms. Arkansas Senior America Pageant is a valuable resource for the state of Arkansas.
Elegance Since 1972
The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world’s first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to women who have reached the “Age of Elegance.” It is a search for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity, and inner beauty of all senior Americans.
The Ms. Senior America Philosophy is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America and our most valuable treasure. It is upon their knowledge, wisdom, experience, and heart for service that the younger generation may also gain knowledge and the opportunity to build a better society.
Our founder, Dr. Al Mott, held his first “Ms. Senior Citizen” pageant in 1972. This was a time when seniors had neither financial security nor robust health. As a former 20th Century Fox recording artist turned minister, he successfully utilized his “show business” background to raise public awareness and highlight the need to support and honor our senior citizens, especially senior women.
The organization’s positive philosophy quickly spread throughout the country and blossomed into a national pageant. In 1981, he changed the name to “Ms. Senior America” and incorporated “Ms. Senior America LLC” in 1981 after crowning the first national Queen, Margaret Callan, in 1980. Dr. Mott and his wife, Betsy, worked tirelessly for almost 50 years to keep their mission and legacy alive before successfully passing the torch. He jovially proclaimed that we are “taking women from the rocking chair to the runway.” We are committed to keeping his founding principles and mission alive for decades to come.
Proclamations
Recognized by state and local leaders, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Crawford County Judge Chris Keith and Mayor of Van Buren Joseph Hurst .
Ms. Arkansas Senior America Forever Queens
1988 Betty Wing
1989 Mirana Thompson
1990 Shirley Baker – Searcy
1991 Mary Fine – Little Rock
1992 Mildred Minton – Ward
1993 Velta Ming – Mulberry
1994 Ester Braggs – Little Rock
1995 Constance Waddell – Bella Vista
1996 Joie Jeffords – Fort Smith
1997 Carma Jean Rivers – Conway
1998 Betty Beck – Mena
1999 Peggy Watson – Fort Smith
2000 Joan A’Hearn – Hot Springs
2001 Evelyn McDonald- Fayetteville
2002 Delories Williams – Lafe
2003 Bernice Mitchell – Van Buren
2004 Robbie Brewer – Van Buren
2005 Mary Russell – Fort Smith
2006 Ruby Coulter – Dyer
2007 Delores Bates – Alma
2008 Judith Burgess – Paragould
2009 Virginia Risley – Prairie Grove
2010 Judy Hargrave Fisher – Rector
2011 Foye Shankle – Hartford
2012 Donna Kingston – Paragould
2013 Katy Phillips – Prairie Grove
2014 Karen Cagel – Rector
2015 Jan Throgmorton – West Fork
2016 Patricia Genovese – Hot Springs
2017 Sherry Marshall – Uniontown
2018 Dixie Makepeace Ford – Hot Springs
2019 Sharon Morgan Tahaney – El Dorado
2020 Covid
2021 Janice Zarebski – El Dorado
2022 Dr. Margaret Pace – Little Rock
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