Six “seenagers” vie for Miss Y title
They’re practicing their lines and their dance steps, dieting and working out…all in anticipation of their big night on Friday…when one of these charming ladies will claim the title of…”Miss Y, 1998″. Yesterday I watched them rehearse.
This year’s Miss Y contestants are as bold as you can get. The Seenagers who range in age from as young as sixty to the golden age of ninety five, have been working overtime in preparing for this Friday’s annual pageant.
There are six contestants vying for the title of “Miss Y ’98,” and although only one will be crowned, the pageant is less a competition, than it is a chance for some fun and fundraising. For the YWCA, the pageant also proves another important point, that our older folks are still very active and talented.
Leotin Lewis, Coordinator, Miss Y
“The ladies even though they are seniors, they term themselves seenagers. Although they are seniors, they are young in their outlook, because they perform, they sing, they dance, they do monologues. They do everything like the young persons would do. That is why I would say that in that instance, they are forever young.”
Watching sixty one year old contestant, Clarine Chimilio, do a couple of jumping jacks and push ups is an awesome spectacle. Chimilio, who never seems to run short of breath, says she has been exercising regularly for the past ten years. Today she can be seen daily running the track at the National Stadium.
Clarine Chimilio, 61 Years Old
“Physical exercise keeps us healthy… keeps us healthy. Useless if we eat different food, proper food or sufficient rest. If you do not exercise, because exercise helps keeps us healthy. It prevents us from having diabetes, from having heart disease, from having stroke and it keeps us from being overweight.”
Sixty two year old Norma Young, who will be doing a medley of folk songs, says she first had to get special permission before she decided to become a contestant.
Norma Young, 62 Years Old
“Because I was working here right and my cousin ask me, Miss Miller, if I don’t want to go up. I tell her well, I have to ask my husband first. When I went home, I put it to him and he tell me di you, you no? What you say, I say. So I tell him, going deh strong.”
On hand to watch the ladies as they rehearse, is the first Miss Y, sixty seven year old Antolina Davis. Davis says she is pleasantly surprised to see just how creative the women have gotten over the past five years.
Antolina Davis, Miss Y ’93
“Well I think it does a lot because people tend to think that you get old and you just sit home and take care of kids. But being Miss Y and since we started the pageant it has stimulated people to realize that age is just a numbers far as any one is concern and you should live each day to its fullest.”
Looking at seventy three year old Olive Flowers, you would never know that only two years ago, she suffered a stroke. But Flowers, is determined to put off a good showing.
Olive Flowers, 73 Years Old
“No I wasn’t scared because I belong to the Guild of the Holy Name and we always have an entertainment.”
For retired nurse, sixty two year old Doreen Neal, her entertainment is in the form of a monologue: “Going to the Clinic”.
Doreen Neal, 62 Years Old
“First of all, you have parents who for some reason or the other, the children play sometime second role, third role and especially if parents are financially embarrassed or don’t have food, you find out that sometimes children become, no become, a priority. But the children either sometimes they get abused or they are not look after as they should be.”
Although all the contestants are indeed special, one lady who will touch the hearts of many is Viola Myles. At ninety five years Myles is the most senior woman in the pageant. According to Myles she has the recipe for longevity.
Viola Miles, 95 Years Old
“My good health. My, I am a retired Y.P.S.M., meaning Young People Sergeant Major. I am godmother of 12 children, godchildren, eight girls, four boys.”
Q: “Why did you decide to become a contestant in this year’s Miss Y Pageant? ”
Viola Miles
“Just for the fun of it.”
Rehearsing for the pageant has just been pure fun for sixty year old Anne Mckoy. Mckoy, who is the most energetic of the women, credits her high-spiritedness to her daily exercise routine.
Anne Mckoy, 60 Years Old
“Well, I work and I ride my bicycle everyday and I feel that’s why I pick up those energy from the riding of the bicycle… lot of exercising.”
One woman who knows what it is like to practice hard for the pageant is the reigning Miss Y, Claire Moody. Moody fondly remembers the year of reign.
Claire Moody, Reigning Miss Y
“Very good. I wish I could have done much more. There were many times when I was called upon to come up, but there were times when I couldn’t make it also and I felt very bad about it. But I did the best that I can and I am always willing to do the best that I can. Although I will be giving up my crown, you can still count on me at anytime for anything.”
Last year the association raised nine thousand dollars from the prestigious show. This time around the YWCA is hoping to double the amount.
The money raised by the pageant will go toward the development of the Y’s Early Leavers Programme. Tickets for the event are ten dollars general, fifteen reserved and five for children. As a special offer, general admission tickets will be sold at the “Y” for just five dollars… only on Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
