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Royalty reigns in Freeport

Two former Ms. New York Senior America queens dish about being the "Age of Elegance"

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Perhaps it is the little girl that lives inside every woman that makes us yearn to wear a crown. The sparkling tiara, worn by a queen, represents womanhood and the power of femininity. The archetypical queen is a conveyor of grace who leads by example. She is someone who uses her position to do tremendous good and works to empower other women.


    Of course most of us grow up and go about our daily lives, never again thinking about becoming a “Queen.” But there are a few who dare to dream … and soar.


    Meet Kay Hill and Kathi Keating, both from Freeport. They are queens, both former winners of the Ms. New York Senior America Pageant. Hill was crowned in 2006 and Keating in 2011. And yes, they wear a crown.


    “When I was asked if I wanted to audition, I thought to myself, ‘I don’t do pageants,” Hill said. But Marleen Schuss, director of Ms. New York Senior America, who heard Hill sing at an audition for Senior Idol, approached Hill and told her she would be a good candidate. “Marleen sent me the material and I called my daughter who convinced me to do it,” Hill said.


    “A friend of mine teased me to enter [the pageant] and to pacify her I did,” Keating said. “Marleen took me under her wing and provided me with guidance. The whole experience was a joy. You develop friendships with other contestants and have a good time.”


    The annual Ms. New York Senior America Pageant spotlights and honors senior women. “It celebrates women of achievement, age 60 and over, who with their talent, abilities and positive projection of aging, best exemplify what senior women can and do accomplish,” reads the website. This year’s pageant will be held Sunday, April 3, at Hofstra University.


    The woman crowned Ms. New York Senior America then goes on to represent New York state in the national Ms. Senior America Pageant. During her reign, she travels throughout the state as a role model for all senior Americans.

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