Lively senior ladies will have a chance to strut their stuff all the way to Atlantic City this summer.

A celebration of the “Age of Elegance,” the Ms. Senior America pageant welcomes all women over the age of 60 to showcase their talent, poise and grace.

“I’ve never regretted a minute of it,” said Ms. Senior North Carolina 2000, Judy Kelley of Wilmington, who now serves as state pageant co-director. “You should see the ladies in these pageants. Their smiles are brilliant; they look beautiful in their evening gowns. Miss America doesn’t have anything on Ms. Senior America.”

On May 16, state pageant Co-Director Beverly Wetherbie will be at the Hamlet Senior Center to discuss details of the competition with prospective entrants. State finalists can go on to pursue the national title in Atlantic City in October.

“Throughout my 25 years here, I’ve always wanted us to do (Ms. Senior America),” said Center Director Susan Sellers. “Older adults have so much to offer. I learn something new every day from them. Why not let them shine? They’re always shining in my life.”

There are no county or regional preliminaries. Richmond County entrants will go straight to the state pageant in Pinehurst on June 5. To encourage local participation, Sellers is waiving the $49 entry for the first four registrants.

“They have to have talent, elegance, self-assurance and a commitment to personal excellence,” said Sellers.

“My philosophy is that everyone has a talent; they just have to find it,” said Kelley. “We had a girl in my pageant in Wilmington who was 91, and she said ‘I don’t have a talent.’”

The 71-year-old beauty queen has been a dancer for most of her life.

“So I taught her a little dance to “Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum,” said Kelley. “And then I told her, ‘If you forget, just do the Charleston.’ Well that’s just what she did. And she brought the house down.”

Besides performing the two minute, 45 second talent routine, state pageant participants must undergo a five-minute interview with the judges, model evening gowns and present their “philosophy of life.”

“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.”

According to Kelley, becoming part of the pageant’s community is a reward within itself.

“I can’t begin to tell you how supportive everyone is. You don’t ever feel bad about yourself in Ms. Senior America,” said Kelley. “Even if you don’t win, you’re still part of the group. It’s such an upbeat environment, and you meet a lot of nice people.”

Pageant Co-Director Beverly Wetherbie will be at the Hamlet Senior Center to answer questions on May 16 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact Hamlet Senior Center Director Susan Sellers at 582-7985.