Meritage Active Newsletter

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT:
Ms. Senior Arizona Peggy Brown Hands Off Crown, Takes On New Role

After an event-packed year serving as Ms. Senior Arizona, Peggy Brown, 63, of Meritage Active’s Sundance community in Buckeye, recently passed her crown on to the new winner in March. She won her title in 2006 by competing in the beauty pageant with 13 other contestants from around the Valley.

On March 3, the crown was passed to Sharon Briendly, 60, of Phoenix, during the 2007 pageant held at the Maricopa County Events Center in the Sun Cities area. One of Brown’s final duties was to deliver that lasting symbol of royalty to the new winner – the pageant tiara.

“I got involved with the pageant after friends from my neighborhood encouraged me to compete. They knew I had a background in singing and an interest to serve our community in some way,” said Brown.

In the past year Brown had numerous opportunities to give back tot the community as she participated in more than 50 events and service projects.

“We visited VA hospitals to entertain patients, toured Arizona to participate in community outreach for those in need, contributed to Red Hat Society functions and much more,” said Brown. “Dedicated women involved in the pageant reach out in ways that make a difference and I plan to continue that work.”

For the past 18 years, mature ladies in Arizona have competed in the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant. Contestants undergo six weeks of rehearsals and countless hours of practice for one big night that happens each year in March. The Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant was founded in 1990 to reward the achievements of women and motivate them to realize their full potential while sharing their positive outlook on life with others. Its purpose is to give women 60 years of age or better the opportunity to display their inner beauty, talents, philosophy and elegance. Average attendance for the annual competition reaches upwards of 2,000 per year.

“We say the pageant is a celebration of life and self-worth, of laughter and tears, of inner beauty and outward charm. We may challenge each other in a competition, but we support each other for the crown,” said Brown.

For many ladies, one night of competition under the spotlight isn’t the goal. The pageant is their first step toward membership into the Cameo Club, a national partner organization for contestants who have competed in any state pageant. All contestants are invited to join and continue their friendships, which develop over the course of their pageant involvement.

The Arizona Cameo Club is six years old and has more than 65 members. The ladies volunteer their time entertaining at retirement centers, clubs, nursing homes and VA hospitals all around Arizona. They are active and vital ambassadors in senior communities and motivational role models for youth.

Brown has accepted a leadership role with the Arizona Cameo Club to continue her service to the community and to help promote the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant.

“My involvement with Ms. Senior Arizona has been a real highlight and I hope to help other women get their chance to shine too,” said Brown.

Brown now helps to organize the Cameo Ball, the club’s biggest event of the year and most important fundraiser. The ball benefits the Desert Southwest Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. This past January the ball raised more than $50,000. The elegant event includes dinner, dancing, live music and an extensive silent auction. For more information about the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant and the Arizona Cameo Club visit www.msseniorarizona.com or www.arizonacameoclub.com.