Ms. Mature Contest Continues to Delight Audiences

Irving — The 2019 Ms. Mature Irving pageant will be presented in the Carpenter Hall of the Irving Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Heritage Senior Center, the Ms. Mature Irving Pageant strives to showcase the talents of senior ladies. Its goal is to demonstrate the value of the senior citizens to the community and to select someone “young at heart” to represent the city of Irving at official functions. The pageant is open to women who are 55 and older and who have lived in Irving for more than two years.

The event is a beauty contest in which the beauty of the spirit is celebrated. The pageant is multi-ethnic and city wide. Contestants register through any of the city recreation centers. The following winners will be selected at the pageant: Ms. Mature Irving, a First runner up, a Second runner up, and Ms. Congeniality. Ms. mature will hold this title for one year, and she must be available to to speak and entertain at city functions.

There are three competitions: personalty, talent and evening wear. Scoring ranges from 0 – 20, with 20 representing the highest possible score for each category. There are 15 categories for a total of 300 maximum points. The scoring scale goes as follows, 1-5 is poor, 6-10 is fair, 11-15 is good and 16-20 is excellent. There are 5 categories/elements to judge in each competition.

In the personality competition, the elements are: poise, conversational ability, the contestant’s attitude and self-confidence, the contestant’s appearance and wardrobe choice, and the value of the contestant’s use of their three minutes. In the talent competition, the elements are: the value of the chosen talent, creativity, stage presence, composure and presentation. In evening wear, the elements are: poise, choice of formal, posture, personal presence and charm.

Linda Spencer and Cindy Jones founded the Ms. Mature Irving pageant in 1982. The first pageant was held at the senior center, and assistant parks and rec director Bill Thompson served as the master of ceremonies. The idea caught on and a great institution was born. The next year, the pageant was moved to the Buena Vista Theater and was held there for the next 6 years.

The Irving Arts Center opened in 1990, and the Carpenter Theater has been home to the Ms. mature Irving pageant since. Many exciting things have happened during the run of the pageant. In 1990, the stage set was being used for the Miss America pageant. The largest part of this set involved a huge set of stairs. One contestant, Vivian Martin Kleinwachter was performing a roller-skating routine at her talent, and descended the stairs on her roller skates! Another example of the marvelous things that have happened at the Ms. Mature Irving pageant was the performance at the 1992 pageant of a young singer from the Johnny High Music Revue: now-country superstar Leann Rimes!

Based on the example of the Ms. Mature Irving pageant, many other senior pageants have come to life. Pageants in San Angelo, San Antonio, Abilene, and Corpus Christi have been founded, as well as a state pageant. All of the Ms. Mature are examples of what is best in senior women. These lovely ladies are vital members of the community with a lot to contribute.

Rambler Newspapers recently interviewed this year’s six pageant contestants and asked them a few questions.

Alice Decker

Q: Why did you decide to join the Ms. Mature Irving competition?

A: I [actually] decided to last year, but I was late. I met Pat when I signed up to be a member of [the senior center]. And I liked it, I looked around the wall [of past winners], I said, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ Then I realized, not a single Asian was on that wall, and that intrigued me.

I talked to Pat and she kept sending me information. I couldn’t join last year, because I was on an Alaskan cruise. Then she called again this year, so I’m in. That’s really my drive, I wanted to represent this segment that’s not up on the wall.

Q: How long have you lived in Irving?

A: I lived in Irving off and on, but I’ve worked in Irving for a long time. I used to be a manager at the Irving Community Hospital, and then we were acquired by Baylor Scott and White. That’s pretty much my history.

I have always lived in Dallas County. During my younger years, I lived in Dallas, then got married and moved to Grand Prairie, and I was working in In Irving. So Irving is always like home to me.

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Irving?

A: Irving is closest place to the airport, so I can just drive to the airport. During the time I was working, the Dallas Cowboys were right there, and I loved that. And of course, my work at Baylor. Those are the three things I really enjoy about living in Irving.

Q: How are you involved in the Irving community?

A: I will start off with my Lions Club. First, I was in Dallas Filipino Lions Club. We always met in Irving in the Chinese restaurant on 183. I’ve been a Lion for 15 years. Then we moved a little further close to Valley Ranch. It’s kind of on the border between Irving and Coppell. I found the Coppell Lions Club right there on the border, and I’ve been with them for a long time.

Talking about community service, I’ve worked with the homeless before. I’ve done toy and food drives, and vision screenings too, because I’m a nurse. So you know, anything medical, healthcare, diabetics, I’m always in it. I was also a member of a group of physicians that did medical missions back to the Philippines.

Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

A: I’m 69 years old, and I have a husband. I retired recently. I had 43 years as a registered nurse, and my husband had 46 years as an engineer. Our life is geared toward service to others, because we want to be occupied with things we enjoy. We enjoy being Lions and serving those who need us.

Betsy Naylor

Q: Why did you decide to join the Ms. Mature Irving competition?

A: Well, I’ve always been interested in competing. This year I’m working contract dentistry, so I can set my own hours. Pat Davenport and I are sopranos in our church choir at Plymouth Park Methodist. She said, ‘I’d love to have a church member in our pageant this year,’ so I just kind of got in.

Q: How long have you lived in Irving?

A: My husband and I have lived in Irving since 1986. He’s had a law practice here since 1980, and we always dreamed of living in Las Colinas. In ’86, we moved here. We watched it grow as the Carpenters built the development. Both our boys went to Irving schools; one went to Irving High School and the other one to MacArthur. We’ve made a lot of friends. We’ve found Irving to be a very welcoming place.

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Irving?

A: I like the diversity, the openness for new people, and the attitude toward progress, that “can-do” attitude.

Q: How are you involved in the Irving community?

A: I’m doing mission work with our church. I sing in the choir. I’m beginning to learn to dance with the Lively Steppers and to entertain at the nursing homes. We’ve taken care of various family members, and so I feel it’s wonderful to give back to the elderly. I’ve done other things in Dallas, but here in Irving, I’ve done fundraising with the Las Colinas Symphony. I’ve done some with the theater guild. I’ve been in Las Colinas Women and also with the YWCA.

Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

A: Oh, I really don’t like to talk much about myself. When I go into a room, I always like to ask questions about another person and get to know that person real well. So sitting here and having to answer questions about myself, that’s a little hard to do. (laughs)

Damaree Agosto Phillips

Q: Why did you decide to join the Ms. Mature Irving competition?

A: I’m an advocate for women and for families. I thought this would be the next logical step for me.

Q: How long have you lived in Irving?

A: I moved here seven years ago. My children and one of my sisters lived in Irving for over 25 years. I just wanted to be with family after the death of my husband.

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Irving?

A: It has a small town, intimate feel to it, yet it’s close to Dallas. If you want something more, you can get out to it. But this is enough for me. I like it here.

Q: How are you involved in the Irving community?

A: I’m a first responder for victims of sexual assault. I go to the hospital whenever I’m called. I also volunteer teaching English as a second language through my church. I am in the process of joining the Lions Club and getting involved with some of what they do. I also volunteer to interpret either medical situations or legal situations for people who do not speak English but are Spanish speaking.

Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

A: I’m proud to serve in whatever way I can.

Judith Nicholson

Q: Why did you decide to join the Ms. Mature Irving competition?

A: I’m the president of Irving Noonday Lions Club, and Pat came and talked to us as a guest speaker. My secretary was sitting across from me, and she kept giving me these evil eyes until I decided to enter. I’ve won a cooking contest at the district convention two years in a row, and I think they thought I was going to do something on cooking, but I’m not.

Q: How long have you lived in Irving?

A: [I moved here] seven years ago. My daughter lived here, and my sons lived in colder climate. My granddaughter was expecting a baby, so I had to take care of that little baby.

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Irving?

A: I’m near my daughter and my granddaughter and my two great grandchildren now.

Q: How are you involved in the Irving community?

A: I am in the Irving Entertainment Series on the board, and I work with Main Stage at the Dupree Theatre. I make pillowcase dresses for girls around the world. I make blankets for the Canine Companions. I’m in the retired teachers’ organization. I sing in the Silvertones, and I’m in the church choir.

Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

A: I’m happy when I make other people happy.

Kathleen Galvan

Q: Why did you decide to join the Ms. Mature Irving competition?

A: My line dancing troupe talked me into it.

Q: How long have you lived in Irving?

A: I moved to Irving in 2012.

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Irving?

A: Oh, I love it. It’s very diversified. You get all kinds of people here. You have Asians, you have Hispanics, you have all people from all walks of life here in Irving, and I love that.

Q: How are you involved in the Irving community?

A: I dance with the Lively Steppers. I go to the memory centers, nursing homes, and rehab centers and dance with them.

I volunteer for the Cochlear Cooperation by talking with people who are considering implants. If they decide to get one, I support them on their journey. I also talk with the local media about cochlear implants, and my own personal experiences. I’m also considering and talking with Pat about giving sign language classes at the Senior Center next year.

Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

A: I have two cochlear implants and have been deaf all my life. It was a very long, hard road to figure out how to hear with these implants and how to speak, so people could understand me, because I never heard myself. I never heard a lot of the speech sounds. I never heard water. I never heard utensils. I never heard a lot of things. I had to go to speech therapy in order to learn what these sounds really sounded like and how to pronounce them. I would like to see more seniors get their hearing tested and get out of isolation, because that’s important. Once you are in isolation due to hearing loss, it can cause heart attacks, strokes and other serious health issues, so I would like to see everyone get a hearing test.

Susan Young Newman

Q: Why did you decide to join the Ms. Mature Irving competition?

A: I was kind of coerced by a friend. My friend and I were talking about it, and then the person in charge of the pageant came up to me and said, ‘I hear you’re interested in being Ms. Mature Irving.’ And I said, ‘Well, I might as well try.’

Q: How long have you lived in Irving?

A: I moved here 38 years ago when I married my husband.

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Irving?

A: I enjoy that it’s still got a lot of the feel of a small town, and I know so many people. It’s just home now.

Q: How are you involved in the Irving community?

A: In the past, I was very involved in cancer research, helping find the money for that. I was on the PTA board, and the city PTA board, and a room mother. Having the daycare, I went over and above with the children I kept to make sure they were happy and healthy and had good homes.

Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

A: Nothing else, but I could probably think of a million things later. (laughs)