From left to right: Third runner-up, Phyllis Chickett from MN. First runner-up, Ruth Gibson from ME. 2009 Queen - Toya Andrew from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Second runner-up, Connie Gabriel from MN. 4th runner-up and winner of the Flaming Glow award, Lynnette Schlager from Pahrump, Nevada.
2007 Winners
The winners' court at this year's Senior Sweethearts pageant is shown above. From left to right are first runner-up Frances Christian, second runner-up Lynette Schlager, Marty Tuohy and his wife, Miss Senior Sweetheart winner Carol Tuohy, fourth runner-up Divina Alora-Jacome, and third runner-up Sharon Maloney.
Steve Aguiar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageants of American Inc, with 2005-2006 queen Virginia Freeman and Anita Raposa, 1st Queen of the Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageants in 1978
Congratulations to the 2013 Queen, Rita Ann Battram from Washington!
"Pretty Old" is coming to Boston! Screening at the Boston Jewish Film Festival, November 11th at 6:00 PM
Lenny “Low-Price” Kaplan – army supply store owner, wrestling announcer, boxing trainer and a local Jewish personality in Fall River – is, most importantly, the brains and heart behind the Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant.This wise, true-life saga (both hilarious and sad) takes us to the 30th pageant, where colorful, energetic women, minimum age 58, compete for the Ms. Senior crown.Sarah Jessica Parker is the executive producer.
Ms. Senior Sweethearts Take a Trip to Nantucket for "Pretty Old" Premiere
Documentary "Pretty Old" casts light on Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant
FALL RIVER —
The Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant, an annual local event for more than 30 years, has become the subject of an award-winning documentary that showcases the spirit of the pageant and the beauty of aging.
“Pretty Old,” by California filmmaker Walter Matteson, won first place at the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday.
Matteson filmed the pageant for two years and followed the diverse stories of four contestants vying for the crown in 2009. The film got the attention of Sarah Jessica Parker, who became its executive producer. Parker is known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw on HBO’s “Sex in the City.”
If you are in your late 60's, 70's, 80's or even 90's and think your days competing in beauty pageants are over... think again.
"Pretty Old" is a new film being featured during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It follows 30 women aged 67-84 from across America to compete in the 30th anniversary of the Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant.
Competitors say it's an inspiring story, that will make you laugh, make you cry and then make you laugh again. They say "Pretty Old" is a profound and intimate look into what it "truly means to age beautifully".
From left to right: 1st runner-up, Constance Gabriel from Rogers, MN. 4th runner-up, Suzi Athanas from Virginia Beach, VA. 2010 Queen, Cheri Ann Schear from St. Louis, MO. 3rd runner-up, Paulette Perry from Fall River, MA. 2nd runner-up, Lynnette Schlager from Pahrump, NV.
THE SMALL STORY
FALL RIVER — For a while there, it looked a little dicey. The ladies were safely tucked away in the makeup room, getting their hair curled and coiffed. But outside, in the hallway, crisis had come to the annual Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageant. Word was spreading fast.
And Lenny Kaplan was spreading it. An hour before the show was to begin, his tuxedo still on its hanger, a sandwich in one hand, a cell phone in the other, the 79-year-old unofficial mayor of Fall River was holding court in the hallway, informing all members of his crew who did not know.
Plans are now underway for a worldwide Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant. If you live outside of the USA, please contact us, if you are interested.
Anita Raposa
The First Queen from 1978
and Southern New England Queen of 1982
This pageant was started in 1978 as a Lions' Club fund raiser and is now National with plans in the works for an International pageant. To be a contestant, you must be a female who is age 58 or older.
To get more information please contact Pageant President Len Kaplan at the National Office, 508-675-0249.
Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageant P O Box 3709 Fall River, MA 02722 508-675-0249
