AUSTIN - The Ms. Senior Nevada Extravaganza rolled into Austin on July 12 to wow community residents with performances and raise money for the Austin Senior Center.
There were 23 performers in the variety show that included singing, comedy and dancing and raised approximately $240 for the senior center, said Elizabeth Rassiga, who lives part-time in Austin and Reno, and helped with the event.
Rassiga was Ms. Senior Austin in 2006 and came in third runner-up in the state. She sometimes performs in the show, she said.
The show, which attracted around 40 people, consisted of past and present city and state queens and lasted for around an hour and 45 minutes. The first 1985 Ms. Senior Nevada, Dorothy Guralnik, 90, of Las Vegas, sang in the show.
A convoy of around 40 people, including fans and staff, traveled to Austin from Las Vegas in cars with a trailer that hauled the ladies' costumes.
This event is not a competition. It is done annually to raise money for senior centers in communities throughout the state, Rassiga said. This is the second time for the show to be held in Austin. The first time was in 2007. From Austin, the ladies headed over to do a performance at the Eureka Opera House.
Frank Whitman was one of the event organizers, Rassiga said. Charlie Christi, the president of the Ms. Senior Nevada organization, and Dottie Reed, who works with him, also helped to organize the event, Rassiga said.
There was a reception held afterward at the Golden Club and hors d' eouvres were provided by the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Around 50 people, including performers, attended the post-show event.
The Ms. Senior Nevada Pageant will be held in Las Vegas in August. The current Ms. Senior Nevada, Nicole Duffel, could not make it to the Austin show but she is usually at the performances, Rassiga said. Duffel was crowned Aug. 22, 2012.
According to a press release, Ms. Senior America, the umbrella organization, was founded by Dr. Al Mott in 1971 with the aim of highlighting older women and their achievements who have attained the "age of elegance."
The organization seeks to find the best example of the "dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all senior Americans." Contestants for Ms. Senior Nevada must be 60 years old and come from all over the state to compete in the yearly pageant in Las Vegas, states the press release.
The winner of Ms. Senior Nevada goes on with other state winners to compete in the Ms. Senior America pageant.
According to its website at www.msseniornevada.com, Ms. Senior Nevada, Inc. was founded by Patti Hoganson Ogren in 1985. The first pageant held in Nevada was Ms. Senior Las Vegas, followed by Ms. Senior Clark County.
"Most people see the pageant as a talent contest - not true - Ms. Senior Nevada has to have the poise, confidence and ability to speak to large and small groups on a variety of subjects," states the website.
The contestants compete in the following categories - talent, evening gown (stage presence and poise), philosophy of life and judges' individual interview.[[In-content Ad]]
