THE AGE OF ELEGANCE
Extravagant outfits and gowns and bold lipsticks were donned by a group of buzzing women, all 60 and older and all beaming. The Ms. Texas Senior America pageant celebrates Texan women living what the organization’s website calls “the age of elegance.” They are judged in four categories: interview, philosophy of life, evening gown, and talent. Patty would be doing acrobatics, Kimberley would sing a show tune, Sue Ellen would twirl her batons, and the Texas Queens would do the performance they do every year — a song and coordinated dance with white laced umbrellas in hand to the song “Sisters” (a song that will later live rent-free in my head for weeks at a time). The focus here is not to rank beauty but instead give space to celebrate senior women empowered by their age.
I documented the Ms. Texas Senior America pageant over 3 years, following the winner of the 2023 pageant to the national pageant held in Atlantic City. This is an ongoing project, be sure to check back in :)
words and images featured in the Texas Observer and Reuters