A recent workshop held at First Baptist Church in Lebanon brought together contestants for the upcoming Ms. Tennessee Senior America pageant, which will be held in Crossville on April 5 at 6 p.m. at The Palace Theater. The event is open to the public, with tickets priced at $20. The new state queen will go on to compete for the title of Ms. Senior America in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
As the current Ms. Wilson County Senior Tennessee, I am honored to represent Wilson County in this prestigious pageant. I am especially excited to share this experience with several familiar faces, including Sandy Elliott, the 2023 Ms. Wilson County Senior, who crowned me at the state fair and will be competing again this year.
Sandy, a Mt. Juliet resident, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, saying, “I love spending time with the senior women. At our age, it’s easy to form genuine friendships without worrying about appearances, and we’re all here to support one another.”
Also participating is Pat Acuff, a Lebanon resident and the 2015 Ms. Wilson County Senior Tennessee, who will be competing again at 80 years old. Pat emphasized the importance of the pageant for older women, stating, “The pageant encourages women to realize that no matter where they are in life, they still have so much to offer. Society may tell us that we’re not as important as we age, but I completely disagree. Older women have invaluable life experience, and we continue to make meaningful contributions to our communities.”
The workshop, which featured powerful stories of perseverance and strength, left a lasting impact on me. One participant shared how she had driven an 18-wheeler truck to finance her nursing school education, while another spoke candidly about overcoming alcoholism. These stories, filled with courage and resilience, showcased the true beauty of these women—not based on physical appearance, but on their ability to give back to the world.
Linda Spencer of Lebanon, a long-time volunteer who has supported the pageant for 30 years, shared her perspective: “Over the years, I’ve seen so many women give back to their communities. I worked for United Way for a long time, and we needed more people like them. The pageants have provided a platform for these women to make a difference.”
While some might view winning as the ultimate goal, for many of the participants, it’s about more than just the title. Frances Brooks, the 2006 Ms. Tennessee Senior and longtime pageant director, explained, “It’s not about winning. It’s about the courage to think outside the box, to walk across the stage with confidence, and to accept the experience as it comes. How you handle defeat is just as important as how you handle victory. It’s about being a queen, even in loss.”
For past winners, the true reward of participating in the pageant has been the lasting friendships formed. “Lifelong friendships are created through these pageants,” Linda Spencer noted. “When my mom passed, women from the pageant organization were there to support me. It meant the world to me. These women remain there for one another, no matter where they live in the state.”
Frances Baker, the 2007 Ms. Wilson County Senior and current board member of the state pageant, added, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for women to come together, not only to showcase their talents and beauty, but also to form friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Carolyn Corlew, a Mt. Juliet resident who won the titles of Ms. Wilson County Senior 2012, Ms. Tennessee Senior America 2013, and Ms. Senior America 2013-14, reflected on the essence of the Senior America pageant: “The Senior America pageants are not about beauty. They celebrate women over 60 who bring life experience, talent, and a passion for life to the stage.”
The upcoming Ms. Tennessee Senior America pageant highlights the strength, resilience, and vitality of senior women, proving that beauty comes in many forms and that life continues to be full of opportunity, no matter the age.
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