Carefree
Public Relations,
owned by
Hedi Headley
and Helen
McKnight,
came up with
the idea
of a senior
pageant to
recognize
and honor
women who
have reached
the "Age
of Elegance".
The Pageant
started off
with 30 contestants,
ages 60 and
up, in a
ballroom
at Sun Village.
Five brave
corporate
sponsors
backed the
event; Del
Web Corp,
Daily News-Sun,
Arizona Senior
World Newspapers
( now Lovin'
Life), KOY
Radio, and
Moore Graphics.
The inaugural
Pageant,
held in February
of 1990 was
an instant
success.
A sold out
crowd of
over 450
people watched
Sue Singleton
Love crowned
the very
first Ms.
Senior Arizona.
More than
300 people
were turned
away that
night.
The next
year, Hedley
and McKnight
aligned
their pageant
with the
National
Ms. Senior
America Pageant.
Arizona has
been well
represented
over the
years. Many
of our reining
Ms. Senior
Arizona's
have reached
Top 10, and
several contestants
have gone
on to be
1st runner
up in the
National
Pageant.
That same
year the
Pageant moved
to a new
location
at the Sundome (since renamed the Maricopa County Events Center). This
has allowed
the pageant
to grow and
to accommodate
the ever
increasing
audience.
The location
of the Maricopa County Events Center
also ensures
that the
Pageant continues
to be produced
at professional
level.
Change
is inevitable
with a production
the size
of Ms. Senior
Arizona.
In 2002,
Founders
Headley and
McKnight
were drawn
in other
directions
as their "Your
Second 50
Years" Radio
show, heard
locally on
960 KKNT,
became nationally
syndicated.
They began
working in
partnership
with Marilyn
Joyce and
Robin Colagrande,
who took
over the
roles as
Pageant Director
and Coordinator.
Joyce and Colagrande share
the passion
for this
pageant with
its original founders. Along with
the Cameo
Club (past
contestants)
and other
very dedicated
volunteers,
they are
determined
to continue
to provide
a motivational,
entertaining,
and inspirational
program to
honor senior
women in
our state.
