Photo by Brian Pearse Photography
From MS Senior World Pageants
THEY ARE TRUE QUEENS —AND NOW THEY HAVE THE TIARAS TO PROVE IT.
Jacqueline Elliott of Midlothian, Texas, Tammy Little Haynes of Section, Alabama, and Mary East of Oxford, Mississippi dazzled at the MS Senior World Pageant, held Nov. 6-11 in Ocean Springs, and earned the contest’s top national titles. Elliott of Midlothian, Texas won the title of MS Senior World 50s while Haynes was named MS Senior World 60s and East won the title of MS Senior World 70s.
In all, 17 delegates representing states from Connecticut to Colorado participated in the pageant, which brings women aged 50-79 together to boost confidence, have fun, make new friends and provide an outlet to bring attention to important issues.
Organizers said delegates began arriving on the Coast beginning Friday, Nov. 5. Outgoing queens walked in a Veterans Day Parade along Beach Boulevard the next day. A formal kickoff with a wine and cheese reception was held that evening. Delegates also enjoyed a festive tea at Martha’s Tea Room on Monday, Nov. 8, followed by preliminaries and finals at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 9 and 10.
Delegates for the Ocean Springs-based pageant, which highlights the accomplishments of senior women, also sought online votes for the People’s Choice Award. The public was invited to vote for their favorite delegate by donating to the pageant, and the winner was guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals. Approximately $12,000 was raised during the month-long campaign, according to organizers, to buy cases of outreach bibles that will be shipped to various countries around the world.
Delegates underwent a 10-minute scored interview with judges from throughout the country. They also competed on stage in active lifestyle wear, fashion vogue and evening gowns. Judges ranked finalists based on a tally of those scores, along with their interview score.
According to the pageant website, MS. Senior World is “a way to show the world the value senior women bring to their communities and their states.”
“These senior ladies are very active in serving others, and MS Senior World affords them a venue to share in a fabulous event where they are the center of attention,” the website states. “It is a wonderful way to educate and empower the delegates and the audience by showing the world what they can accomplish.”
For updates on the pageant and other information, visit https://www.seniorworldpageants.com. To participate in the 2022-2023 pageant, contact: MS Senior World Pageant organizers via email at info@seniorworldpageants.com