Pageant Winners Will Visit Greenwood
When Betty Aden got involved with the senior pageant circuit a decade ago, she visited the hometowns of many of the women she met at the competitions.
She is returning the favor next week, organizing a gathering in Greenwood of 12 former or reigning queens from six states Feb. 16-18.
“I want them to see my town. I want you to see them, and I want them to see you,” Betty Aden told the Greenwood Rotary Club this week as she continues to spread word about the event.
In 2018, Aden, a former longtime dance instructor at Mississippi Delta Community College, was crowned Ms. Super Senior Universe. The senior pageants are for women 60 years and older.
She has continued to remain involved in the pageant organizations, saying that her interaction with the women energizes her.
“I have met amazing women across the United States and have formed a sisterhood with many of these women,” Aden said.
Aden has a busy weekend planned for her guests, including several opportunities for Greenwood residents to interact with them.
On Friday, Feb. 16, the queens will be attending a private-invitation movie-star-themed dance at the Greenwood Country Club. The next day, Susan and Rob Spiller will host the group for lunch at the Spillers’ Grand Boulevard home, followed by a tour of Greenwood led by Debbie Oxnam.
That night, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., there will be a “Meet the Queens” event in The Alluvian lobby, and the queens will be attired in their gowns, crowns and sashes.
The weekend will cap off with performances Sunday by the queens as well as two groups of dancers at Davis Auditorium, starting at 2 p.m. Greenwood Little Theatre, which holds its plays at that venue, is assisting with the publicity and logistics for what is being called “Showtime! A Senior Queen’s Showcase.”
The queens will be demonstrating the talents that helped them win their crowns. Also performing will be some of the girls who have attended Aden’s longtime children’s summer dance camps. So will a group of Greenwood ladies, 60 and above, who participate in her “Just Dance” class. Tickets for “Showtime!” are $10 and will be available at the door.
Aden is urging the public to attend both Saturday night’s and Sunday’s events and help make the weekend special for her royal visitors.
“I want Greenwood to show out for them,” she said.