RSM Woman in Ms. Senior California Pageant

A Rancho Santa Margarita woman will be one of 12 contestants vying for Ms. Senior California this week.

With "Ladies, Take a Bow" serving as the theme to this year's event, the age 60-plus contestants will compete on Westminster's Rose Center Theater stage in the California Senior America Pageant. They hope to score highest in interview, evening gown and talent competition, as well as relaying their philosophy of life.

The winner moves on to the Ms. Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City in October.

The event takes place Saturday. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at RoseCenterTheater.com by clicking on “tickets.”

Suzanne Millhollen of Rancho Santa Margarita qualified for the competition by finishing as the first runner-up to Ms. Senior Orange County Ginni Gordon of Huntington Beach.

Other contestants are Diana Almazol of Monrovia, Elaine Brammell of Carlsbad, Syni Champion of Sacramento, Renee Hamaty of Santa Barbara, Elisabeth Howard of Topanga, Wendy Ida of Lakewood, Gayla Kalp Jackson of Moorpark, Jeanne Lenhart of San Diego, Lea London of Marina del Rey, and Patti Melega of Thousand Oaks.

The pageant is for women who have reached the so-called “age of elegance”—60 years and up. Each contestant either won a city title or was first runner-up in the six preliminary pageants statewide. The pageant seeks to elevate elegant senior women and allow them to get the recognition they deserve.

Ms. Senior California of America Inc. was established as a nonprofit corporation in 2010 and is affiliated with Ms. Senior America Inc., founded in 1971. The Ms. Senior California Pageant is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and is now the largest senior pageant program in the nation. For more information see MsSrCalifornia.com.

Reigning Ms. Senior California Norma Morein of Long Beach went on to become third runner-up at the 2011 Ms. Senior America Pageant. A former educator and business owner, Morein spends her time assisting families and seniors in completing oft-neglected tasks—making their days easier and less complicated. She has used her platform as Ms. Senior California to bring attention to the resources, skills, knowledge, talents and experience that the millions of seniors in this country possess.

Since 1972, the Ms. Senior America and its state chapters has held to the philosophy that seniors are the foundation of America and should be considered its most valuable treasure, and that their knowledge, experience, and resources can help younger generations build a better society.