Pahrump woman crowned Ms. Senior

Nichole Davis

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 4:20 a.m.

Gaming auditor Mildred James of Pahrump has been crowned Ms. Senior Nevada 1997.

The 62 1/2-year-old grandmother won Sunday's pageant at the Boomtown hotel-casino, spurred on by family and friends among the 200 enthusiastic spectators.

James won the talent competition for dressing up as an old man and lip synching Ray Stevens' classic song "The Streak."

"I saw Ray Stevens do 'The Streak,' and I said to myself, I can do that," James said after the competition.

James, who prepared for three months for the event that meant "everything" to her, will travel to Biloxi, Miss., in August to try to do it again in the Ms. Senior America pageant. She will compete against 40 reigning state queens, and if she succeeds will be the first Nevada queen to win the event during the 12 years the state has held competitions.

Spectators at Sunday's event predicted the graceful James has a good chance. Her comedy-dance routine is a big selling point.

"Her comedy routine was outstanding," said judge T.J. Gioia, who produces and directs the Senior Follies each year.

But James first will have to get a handle on her new responsibilities as Ms. Senior Nevada, which include visiting all the state's senior centers, appearing in parades and representing the pageant in functions throughout the state. Her bosses at Terrible's Town Casino have already agreed to give her the time off.

"It really is a big responsibility, because I represent all the senior ladies in Nevada," James said.

Ms. Senior America Frankie Stewart, a retired HMO executive from California, knows that responsibility well. She has given up a lot of time over the last year to promote the pageant because it forces people to re-examine beliefs they have about older women.

"People have stereotyped myths about what older women are. We debunked that," said Stewart, who danced across the stage Sunday wearing 3-inch silver high heels as she sang "Unforgettable."

The pageant also instills pride and self-respect in the women who participate, Nevada pageant founder Patti Ogren said.

"These women have reared their families. They've had their careers, but when they go on stage they become new people," she said. "Not only that, but they form a bond, a sistership. It's needed. Everybody needs it."

For more information on the pageant, call 458-9899.