The Beauty Queens of Ms. Texas Senior America

While they don’t don swimsuits, the age 60-and-up contestants of the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant do just about everything else their twentysomething counterparts do. The annual contest includes a judges’ interview, gown modeling, a “philosophy of life” statement, and a talent portion that in past years has seen concert piano pieces, opera arias, comedy acts, Jazzercise routines, celebrity impersonations, and, in a few cases, contestants wheeling out slow cookers to demo their favorite recipes. “Don’t go sit in that rocking chair and rust,” says Sarah Senter, the pageant’s director and 2009 winner. “Get out there. Share your knowledge. You are the treasure. Embrace the age of elegance.” The purpose of this “inner beauty contest,” Senter says, is to promote healthy aging and mental well-being; the fringe benefit is joining a tightknit community of effervescent women. As five of the past winners gathered for this photo shoot, we asked for the secret to aging gracefully. “Staying active!” Senter replied. “And drinking lots of wine,” quipped reigning queen Catherine Brown, eliciting peals of laughter from her begowned sisters in seniority. This year’s contest will take place August 11 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dallas. Visit mstexassenioramerica.com for tickets.