February 8, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Beautiful ladies from across Tennessee including one from DeKalb County will be gathering at the historic Palace Theatre in Crossville this spring to participate in the annual Ms. Tennessee Senior America pageant which serves as the preliminary to the Ms Senior America Pageant.
Susan Hinton of Smithville will represent the DeKalb County Fair in the pageant as the Ms. Senior Grandpa Fair of the South.
The reigning Ms Tennessee Senior America is Susan England of Sparta.
The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world’s first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to women who have reached the “Age of Elegance.” It is a search for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all senior Americans. The Ms. Senior America philosophy is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America, and our most valuable treasure. It is upon their knowledge, experience and resources that the younger generation has the opportunity to build a better society.
Contestants must be at least 60 years of age and a Tennessee resident. Prior entrance in other pageants is not required.
The three judges will be looking for the woman who best exemplifies the “Age of Elegance.” Volunteer work is considered.
Judging is based on interview, philosophy of life, talent presentation and evening gown appearance.
“My philosophy of life platform will be about literacy education and that you are never too old to learn because it is not where you start but where you finish that counts,” said Hinton, a longtime educator.
The winner of the pageant will receive flowers, sash, crown and a paid trip to Atlantic City, NJ, to represent Tennessee in the National Competition, along with $500 to assist with personal expenses.
The Ms Tennessee Senior America Pageant will be held Saturday, April 18 in Crossville where contestants will meet individually with the pageant judges for the interview portion. Judges hope that during the personal interview they will be able to select a woman whose charm, personality and conversational ability meet the ideals of Ms. Senior America. Saturday evening will be full of excitement with entertainment from past queens, and each of the ladies in the pageant performing their own unique talent. Afterward, the ladies will be in evening gowns; the evening gown portion allows each judge to see the contestants poise and grace on display, along with their fashion style. The contestants “philosophy of life” will be presented individually along with the evening gown portion of the pageant.
Before the evening is over, the new Ms Tennessee Senior America will be crowned. And the next journey begins — Atlantic City in October for the national pageant.
Hinton said she is thrilled to have this opportunity and is proud to represent DeKalb County and the Fair in the Ms. Tennessee Senior America Pageant.
“There are always people smarter, prettier, and more intelligent but there is nobody who could win that would love people and have a heart for Tennessee like I do,” said Hinton.
“This pageant is about inner beauty for our age, the age of elegance, and that outside beauty should be a reflection of your inside beauty. It is to show that senior Americans are still a vital part of the world and that they are the foundation of America and one of the most valuable treasures of America,” added Hinton.
Susan is no stranger to pageants. As a teen, she competed in the DeKalb County Fair and Harvest Festival pageants and while in college represented Belmont University in the Miss Tennessee pageant. Hinton has also judged and been an emcee for beauty pageants over the years.
The Ms Tennessee Senior America Pageant also champions worthy causes through fundraising activities of each contestant.
“We sell ads for the Ms. Tennessee Senior America program and the person who wins the ad competition gets a portion of that money which goes to their favorite charity and mine is for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income, but each county has to support the effort by donating a certain portion of money,” said Hinton.
Button Willow downtown Smithville is also hosting a benefit concert featuring Susan on February 28 from 7-9 p.m. in a program called “A Night of Elegance”. The public is invited to attend.