The 2016 Ms. Senior America Pageant: Meet the Contestants

SECOND RUNNER UP 

Name: Elaine Willingham 

Talent: ballet 

Ms. Alabama is a 62-year-old ballerina and owner of the Cullman Ballet Theatre in Cullman, Alabama. Her self-choreographed routine to "Satie's First Gymnopedie" during the talent presentations was her first performance in 11 years. 

Name: Charlotte Werner Ambrose 

Talent: performance art

Ms. Alaska's philosophy of life (a.k.a. life motto) goes a little something like this: "Rumor has it life is like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you're gonna get! And I'm determined to try each and every one!" 

Name: Jeanne Martin 

Talents: singing and yodeling 

"My favorite thing about this pageant is the camaraderie of the ladies and even though we're at this stage in our lives, we still have so much to offer and so much to share," says Ms. Arizona. 

Name: Patricia Marie Genovese 

Talent: lyrical dance 

"By this age, you've had surgeries, car accidents, deaths, divorces ... you name it, we've been through it. It's how you react to it and how you grow from it that gives you wisdom. This pageant gives us the opportunity to pass that wisdom down to younger generations," says Ms. Arkansas. 

FOURTH RUNNER UP

Name: Joyce Schumaker 

Talents: dance and choreography 

"Life is a beautiful dance, and oh how I love to get out on that big stage of life and move my feet to the beat!" is the motto Ms. California lives by. 

Name: Sylvia B. Boyd 

Talent: singing 

Ms. Colorado performed "The Glory of Love" by Dean Martin during the talent presentations and is a volunteer for Alzheimer's patients back in her home state. 

Name: Krystyna S. Farley 

Talent: poetry 

Ms. Connecticut was 14 years old and living in Poland when Stalin invaded and deported millions to labor camps in Russia. Now, she says she knows what a blessing America is, what it means to be enslaved, and what it means to be free. In 2013, she wrote a memoir, So Far From Home. ($10, amazon.com) 

Name: Billie LaVerne Smith 

Talent: jazz piano

For her talent presentation, Ms. District of Columbia performed "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" by Etta James on piano. About one minute and 40 seconds in, and she had the whole audience clapping along. 

Name: Linda Lee Smith 

Talents: vocal performance

Ms. Idaho is a volunteer for people in addiction recovery and is a reading teacher at Pocatello Women's Correctional Center in Pocatello, Idaho. 

Name: Sherry Reseigh 

Talents: singing and comedy 

Ms. Illinois is a volunteer for AIDS, MS and stroke patients in her home state. 

TOP 10 FINALIST 

Name: Diane Beebe 

Talent: singing 

Ms. Iowa reminds the audience during her philosophy of life: "There comes a time in your life when you need to surround yourself with people who help you focus on the good. Falling down may be part of life, but when you get back up, now that is living!" 

Name: Patricia LaRue 

Talent: "Can You Do the Talent Part?" an original poem 

"Can you ballet on your tippy toes? From a magic hat, can you pull a rose? Can you a guitar, flute or piano play? Can you, on this magical day, show us your own unique talent as only you may?" —an excerpt from Ms. Kansas' playful, Dr. Seuss-like original poem, performed during the talent presentations 

Name: Catherine Szerszen 

Talents: singing and dancing 

Ms. Kentucky volunteers with pediatric patients and veterans at St. Jude Hospital. 

TOP 10 FINALIST 

Name: Kyle Sherwood Ralston 

Talents: painting, singing, dancing and playing the "rhythm stick" 

Ms. Louisiana is an award-winning watercolorist whose work can be found in the Louisiana Governor's office, among other places in her home state. 

Name: Merilee Thompson Imamoto 

Talents: acting and singing 

Ms. Maine teaches anti-bullying classes in her home state and is also a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

FIRST RUNNER UP 

Name: Sherrie McGhie 

Talent: musical theater

Ms. Maryland brought down the house when she sang "When You're Good to Mama" from the musical Chicago during the talent presentations. 

Name: Holly Joy Pearson 

Talent: singing 

"Do it because it's in your heart, not because you want something in return," is Ms. Massachusetts' philosophy of life. 

Name: Sharon Peters 

Talent: piano

Ms. Michigan performed "How Great Thou Art" on piano during the talent presentations. Read more about her here. 

Name: June Delores Lynne Lacey 

Talent: comedy

To say Ms. Minnesota is an active member of her community is an understatement. She was recently awarded Minnesota's Senior of the Year Award for more than 77 years of volunteering. Three weeks before the pageant, she suffered a Hemorrhagic stroke, but it was her dream to compete in Ms. Senior America at Nationals. Read more about her here.