GALLERY: Meet your new Mrs. Senior Golden Years Queen

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times From left to right are Ms. Congeniality Maria Trzcinski, Tere... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times From left to right are Ms. Congeniality Maria Trzcinski, Teresa Ochoa, Peggy Sue Fletcher, 2024 Queen Debbie Forrest, 1st Runner-up Star Stewart and 2nd Runner-up Laura Horn.

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Teresa Ochoa whirls around the stage during the talent portion... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Teresa Ochoa whirls around the stage during the talent portion of the Ms. Senior Golden Years competition, where she showcased a variety of her own artwork.

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Laura Horn performs Wierd Al Yankovic parody song "I like... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Laura Horn performs Wierd Al Yankovic parody song “I Love Rocky Road.”

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times The Nevada Silver Tappers entertain between competitor segments... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times The Nevada Silver Tappers entertain between contestant segments in the Ms. Senior Golden Years pageant.

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Ms. BJ Hetrick-Irwin, founding principal of Golden Years, hugs the judge... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Golden Years Founding Principal BJ Hetrick-Irwin hugs judge Kim Wanker, 2024 Sally LaRocca Award winner.

Robin Hebrock/Pahrump Valley Times A full page of the competition booklet was dedicated to recognizing... — Robin Hebrock/Pahrump Valley Times An entire page of the contest booklet was dedicated to recognizing those who helped make the contest possible this year.

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times The Ms. Senior Golden Years pageant drew a huge crowd of... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times The Miss Senior Golden Years Pageant drew a huge crowd of supporters on June 15.

John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Debbie Forrest reacts with shock when she is crowned the new Mrs.... — John Clausen/Pahrump Valley Times Debbie Forrest reacts with shock as she is crowned the new Ms. Senior Golden Years queen.

Last Saturday, the six sensational ladies competing in the 2024 Mrs. Senior Golden Years competition took to the stage for an evening full of confidence, elegance and fun, all culminating in the crowning of the new Mrs. Senior Golden Years queen, Debbie Forrest.

Taking place inside the Saddle West Exhibit Hall, the MSGY competition kicked off at 7 p.m. with a welcome from emcee Stephani Elliott. Contestants in the competition included Forrest, as well as Maria Trzcinski, Teresa Ochoa, Peggy Sue Fletcher, Laura Horn and Star Stewart.

“The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Dream the Impossible Dream’ and tonight we will experience a fascinating journey of ambition, purpose and courage,” Elliott told a packed crowd. “First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt truly embraces our theme with the following quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. »

Honoring the memory of 2004 MSGY Queen Mitzi Sears, the pageant featured a variety of guest performances including 2023 MSGY Queen Althea P. Jones, 2022 MSGY First Runner-up Shirley Molenda, 2022 MSGY Second Runner-up MSGY 2023 Marjorie Washington-Nears, 2018. MSGY second runner-up Mary McRory, former MSGY competition contestant Saundra Fisher, John Michael Ferrari and the Nevada Silver Tappers.

But the main focus of the evening was, of course, the contestants themselves, with competition categories including talent, evening gowns and what is affectionately considered the only swimsuit competition for seniors called “Bath Beauties”. There was also a fourth category of competition, the interview/platform, which took place in private between the judges and each candidate.

Three judges, Margo Young, Nathan Tannenbaum and Bruce Jabbour, took on the difficult task of scoring the competition and determining the ultimate winner. Young has a long history in the entertainment industry and was crowned Ms. Senior Nevada 2009. Tannenbaum is a well-known television and radio personality who anchors 8NewsNow’s Good Day Traffic reports, forecasts the weather on various newscasts and hosts several shows on Vegas PBS. . Jabbour is a Nye County commissioner and has extensive experience in the hospitality industry.

Once all was said and done, the judges’ scores were tallied and Forrest was chosen as this year’s queen. Horn won second runner-up, while Stewart took home the first runner-up title. Trzcinski was chosen by her fellow contestants as this year’s Ms. Congeniality.

The MSGY competition also provides an opportunity for the organization to present a special award to a community member who has demonstrated personal courage, bravery and dedication to the community, the Sally LaRocca Award. Named in honor of a former MSGY contestant who competed at the age of 90, the Sally LaRocca Award was presented by MSGY founder and matriarch BJ Hetrick-Irwin.

“As soon as I mention her name you will all know her because she worked for children and a better life here in Pahrump, she did so much in this community and she also became a star. I want to bring up our judge Kim Wanker Hetrick-Irwin announced it with obvious enthusiasm on Saturday evening.

“Thank you very much. I am very, very surprised and grateful,” said a humble Wanker.

With the 2024 competition now concluded, Forrest will represent the MSGY organization for the next 12 months while simultaneously pursuing his personal platform.

“My platform is the Pahrump Senior Center and Meals on Wheels,” Forrest explained. “We have a great retirement community in Pahrump. Many of our seniors only have Social Security to live on. With inflation on the rise, many are turning to the Senior Center for transportation, meals and socialization. The Senior Center provides meals to our homebound seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. This is a non-profit organization that operates on donations and grants… Our seniors need this facility. Let’s keep it running!

For more information about the MSGY organization, contact Hetrick-Irwin at 775-727-7011.

Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at [email protected]