Day for a Queen

The guitarist broke a string while “Elvis” sang “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” to the beauty queen perched on his knee.

That was just fine by the woman engrossed in a losing craps game who complained that the rock ‘n’ roll ruckus was messing her up. Still another woman welcomed the faux King and begged him to bless her blackjack game. She won as soon as the Elvis impersonator left the building.

The first two editions of this party were called “Las Vegas Day.” But the nearly 500 senior citizens who turned out Friday at the Carson Community Center were there to see the event renamed “Frankie Stewart Day” in honor of the Carson resident who captured the Ms. Senior America title last year.

By the end of the glitzy affair, which included big-band and country music, the older folks were bopping to “Blue Suede Shoes” and praising Stewart for giving senior citizens and Carson a good name.

“She’s put Carson on the map and made it popular,” said Noreen Hansen, 62, after a losing hand at blackjack. “She’s an outstanding person.”

Looking smashing in a tailored orange suit, sans the rhinestone tiara and sash she wore when she won the beauty pageant, Stewart, 62, was honored by a host of city and state officials who were just as proud as the seniors to have one of America’s most well-known senior citizens in their midst. City officials proclaimed Aug. 15 Frankie Stewart Day from here on out--a day to honor their crowned beauty and all senior citizens.

Stewart beat 40 other contestants at the 17-year-old Biloxi, Miss., competition last September after judges determined that she best represented the “age of elegance.”

Her poise, musical talent, excitement over growing old and time-tested philosophies about God and building character won Stewart the crown, which she will relinquish next month when a new Ms. Senior America is named.

“This has been an awesome responsibility, because winning this contest is about grace and style as opposed to outer beauty,” said Stewart, a retired health care administrator and mother of four sons. “But I represent a group that’s all that and a bag o’ doughnuts. Senior women are great women.”

During Stewart’s reign as Ms. Senior America, she has traveled to seven states, visiting retirement homes, colleges and a Ronald McDonald House. She says her visits inspired other senior citizens to remember to “celebrate life.”

Stewart concedes that her duties may not be as glamorous as those of her younger counterparts in other pageants, but then, she adds: “Senior citizens never get their due.”

Unlike pageant winners who get commercial endorsements, money and prizes, Ms. Senior America gets a year’s supply of makeup and a free trip to California. Stewart is trying to exchange that prize for a trip to New York.

Still, it has been a lot of fun, for both Stewart, a 24-year Carson resident, and the local seniors.

Elda Barry, president of Ms. Senior California, said three women at Friday’s event told her they planned to sign up next year.

“This pageant gives women over 60 such self-esteem and self-confidence,” said Barry, Ms. Senior California in 1986. “It’s getting bigger every year. Senior women are really coming of age.”