By Ava Holly
The lights went down, the curtain opened and there before the audience were the State representatives of the Ms. Senior America National Competition finals. A week-long experience for the contestants with interviews, talent, events and rehearsals taking place at the Tropicana Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
When the curtain opened at the finals, the excitement built for the announcement of the top 12. This year, there were 43 States represented. After the top 12 were announced, the evening gown competition and talent portions offered a fresh start at scoring.
This year, the judging panel included actress and model Deborah Vance, founder of the Classic Pinball Corporation and retired Naval veteran Kevin McHugh, Montessori school teacher Shirley Officer, co-founder of the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. Eric Schaeffer and Sandra Bears, a female doo wop star with over five decades in the music industry.
Also, the judge liaison, who has spent over 35 years in and around pageantry, Steve Newport, was there too.
Many past queens and contestants were in the audience including Betty Jean Pace, Diane DeLuca, Ferlie Almonte and Esmeralda Hetrick to name a few.
Also in the audience was radio personality Bertram Newton and entertainers Max Valentino and Bobby Fischetti, who entertained the audience’s socks off with classic tunes. They are unbelievable!
There was a vast array of people who made this event so special like pageant owners Denise and Floyd Calazzo, National Pageant Director Kat Fanelli, Assistant Pageant Director Linda Newport and National Creative Director Elaine DeSalvo-Beebe.
We can’t leave out the Pageant Founder Dr. Al Mott.
This is the age of elegance. All the contestants are over 60 years of age.
If you want to try out something new and embrace your talents and energy, check out the website and sign up to be a contestant.
Start at the local level at www.newjerseysenioramerica.org
Our own Ferlie Almonte, N.J. State Winner 2022, was a part of many aspects of the event. We were also represented so beautifully by our current 2023 State Winner Lenore Cibelli-Lambert.
All of these women become sisters in some respect. They are now all part of the Cameo Club that entertains all over the State all year long.
In New Jersey, all of this under the leadership of Johanne Santori and Terry Brightman Meade. Thank you ladies for all your hard work.
Every one of the contestants held a special shine at the Nationals. Current Reigning Queen Dr. Terre Quinn was dynamic in her last performance before passing on the crown to someone new.
There were many special awards handed out yet the coveted Miss Congeniality Award went to Ms. West Virginia Senior America – Dr. Debra Canale.
With MC’s Peggy Lee Brennan-Haberer and Geoff Haberer we are ready to give you the exciting results of the competition.
4th Runner-up: Ms. Colorado Senior America Andrea Kehmeier
3rd Runner-up: Ms. California Senior America Liz Palmer
2nd Runner-up: Ms. New York Senior America Joan Caliendo
1st Runner-up: Ms. Virginia Dr. Rose Cherie Bowe
The winner of the 2024-2025 National Competition…..drum roll please….
Ms. Louisiana Senior America – Natalie Oliver-Atherton.
An amazing day at the Tropicana. See you again next year!
