SENIOR MS. AMERICA continued
ORTHOTICS &
PROSTHETICS
SENIOR MS. AMERICA continued
SENIOR MS. AMERICA con't from FRONT PAGE
SENIOR MS. AMERICA con't. next column
SENIOR MS. AMERICA con't. next column
Post-Mastectomy Products.
Artificial Limbs. Footwear.
Compression Garments.
Orthotic Braces.
Supporting the Sandhills Since 1981.
95 Aviemore Dr., Pinehurst
www.oandpofpinehurst.com
295.4489
OF PINEHURST
Custom Fabricated
& Custom Fit
Situated right here in our lovely hometown
of Pinehurst, under the direction of Mrs. Beverly
Wetherbie, known to all as Bev, the Senior Ms.
America pageant of North Carolina crowns a state
winner each April. Several locals have walked
across the Owens Auditorium stage at Sandhills
Community College and into our hearts. One
such local, Rosa Recio from Pinehurst won the
hearts of the judges and was crowned Ms. North
Carolina Senior America 2017.
As Bev welcomes us into her beautiful home,
the story unfolds. A state winner herself, Bev
remembers being crowned Ms. Virginia Senior
America 2005. “I competed four times before I
achieved my crown; I had to really work for it. I’m
a ballroom dancer, but for my talent I couldn’t
take my partner on stage, so I got creative,
designed a wire mannequin, made a jacket for
it, and danced away. We called him Mr. Bob after
my husband. However during the fourth year of
being a contestant, I used a boa, wore a flapper–
style dress, and danced to the song, “Everything
Old is New Again.”
With no previous pageant experience, Bev
was 62 years old when a 1999 National Queen
approached her about being a contestant, and
a whole new world blossomed. Growing up
in Ohio, Bev spent her life moving around the
country with the Army once she married Bob
who served. Bev smiles, “Life has been full. We
celebrate 60 years of marriage in August, and
our home in Aberdeen is Bob’s 49th home.” With
a daughter in Alexandria, Virginia, and a son in
St. Petersburg, Florida, Bob and Bev have settled
right in between family.
Bev, NC State Co-Director of the Senior
Ms. America pageant, explains the rules: “You
have to be 60 • You must reside in your state
for at least three months. • You have a 5 minute
interview with the judges. • You recite a 35
second statement of your philosophy of life. •
You model an evening gown of choice, reflecting
that clothes don’t make the woman; the woman
makes the clothes. • You perform a talent, no
more than 2 minutes and 45 seconds—that’s the
show stopper. Everyone says they don’t have a
talent, but we all have talent! We’ve had artists,
photographers, florists, baton twirlers, etc.”
Both Bev and Rosa agree, the friendships
established between the women become the
best part of the entire organization. Once a
lady enters the pageant, then she becomes a
member of the Cameo Club. Bev explains, “With
38 members, the Cameo Club supports our
pageant. Some Cameos have been queens, some
a candidate for only a year, but no matter what,
the ladies continue to support the cause, and I
couldn’t do this without them. The friendship of
so many ladies is incredible! I have 700 Cameo
sisters across the United States, and whenever
we go to nationals, it’s as if no time has passed.”
Rosa, Ms. Senior North Carolina 2017, agrees,
“The pageant has brought so many wonderful
people into my life; the Cameo Club ladies are
amazing!”
When Sarah Daffron, NC Co-Director, saw
Rosa trying to teach a few line dances to friends
at Farmer’s Day, she gave Rosa her card and
asked her to call. Once Rosa came to a Cameo
meeting, she decided to give the pageant a
try, just for fun—and she won! Although Rosa
always wanted to be a queen as a little girl,
this was her first pageant ever. Of Puerto Rican
heritage, Rosa was born and raised in New York
City and laughs, “I’m a transplanted New York
Rican. Since my husband was military, we ended
up in Fort Bragg.” After serving as an X-ray
Technologist and Angio Specialist for about
19 yrs, Rosa then worked as a Cardiovascular
Specialist in the Cath Lab at the Reid Heart
Center and retired after more than 31 years at
FirstHealth of the Carolinas.
Rosa’s life of caring for others carried over
into her pageant philosophy: “With the love of
God, family, and friends, I try to live my life fully
with joy and laughter every day treating others
with respect, understanding, and fairness and
dreaming of everything possible for tomorrow.”
Along with sharing her philosophy at the
pageant, Rosa wore a light purple evening gown
and performed a salsa dance for her talent.
Being crowned Ms. Senior North Carolina 2017
was a highlight of Rosa’s life. Encouraging other
ladies to join, Rosa remains an inspiration. Rosa
tells, “Every little girl with dreams becomes a
woman with vision. I think every little girl who
sees this pageant will learn that it doesn’t end
when they grow up. You can keep going!”
Winning the state crown led Rosa to the
Nationals in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where she
competed with 49 contestants to determine a
national queen. Rosa smiles, “Participating in
the Nationals was another amazing experience!”
In April, Rosa returns to the local stage where
she will do her final walk, perform her talent,
and crown the new 2018 winner.
On April 28th, at 7 o’clock in the evening,
14 ladies will make their debut for a night of
Music, Magic, and Enchantment. Decorated
in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and
gold, Owens Auditorium will host the pageant,
a culmination of hopes and dreams and lots of
hard work. Contestants pay a $100 entrance fee,
and to help fund the pageant, they sell ads and
tickets for the 700 seats at Owens. For $10.00
locals can watch the evening show along with
the national queen who is attending this year.
Chosen for their experience in the arts,
drama, theatre, or simply chosen for good
character and experience, the pageant judges
are secretly selected, and the contestants do
not know the judges until they walk in to meet
them. For instance, the Mayor of Pinehurst was
a judge as was a gentleman from the Board of
Education. Normally there are three judges,
and each candidate is judged upon herself
and never against another who came in either
before or after. The tabulators run the numbers,
and decisions are based upon the interview,
philosophy, talent, and evening gown. Bev
encourages, “Philosophy is your beauty; inner
beauty is most important. If you feel great in
what you’re wearing, then it will project.”
There to cheer on the women, the families
support the contestants all the way through those
first doubtful steps of signing up to the confident
steps to receive the crown. Bev emphasizes,
“The philosophy of the organization shared by
Dr. Mott is based upon the belief that Seniors are
the foundation and most valuable resource of
America. It’s upon their knowledge, experience,
and resources that the younger generation has
the opportunity to build a better society. We are
role models for the younger ones.”
Rosa’s family and friends surely came out
to support her winning the crown. Married for
43 years with 3 fur dog babies, Rosa is enjoying
retirement as there is a lot of time to pursue life.
Currently, she’s planning a big cruise with her
girlfriends! Locally, she and her husband enjoy
dancing. Rosa tells, “We have a big music family
with the Sand Band, the Randy Hughes band,
Tim Wilson and all of the different little music
groups. My husband is a percussionist.”
In looking back over life, Bev shares, “Take
every opportunity that you are given. Don’t turn
it away because you think you can’t do it. Our
ladies struggle with the same, but I keep telling
them—you can do this. Have fun! You don’t know
what’s beyond that door unless you open it.”
Rosa agrees, “You have to take every
opportunity that comes your way. How else are
you going to know if it’s going to be worth your
while? You have to experience what you can
while you’re on this earth.”
So come, take this opportunity, accept
your invitation, and experience the pageant!
You won’t regret sharing this evening of Music,
Magic, and Enchantment with these ladies of
talent inspiring the next generation.
For tickets call: 910-944-8171.
Visit the NC website: ncsenioramerica.com.
National website: senioramerica.org.
Make plans to attend the Pageant
April 28th, 7PM, SCC's Owens Auditorium.
Mrs. Rosa Recio & Mrs. Beverly Wetherbie.
p.28 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 130
/www.oandpofpinehurst.com
/ncsenioramerica.com
/senioramerica.org