Stepping Out

The Age of Elegance: 60-plus is sensational!

The Ms. New York Senior America pageant comes to Hofstra University

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They’re elegant, they’re talented, they’re funny and they’re sassy. They are the epitome of style and grace. They are beautiful, inside and out, poised and charming and engaging. They are this year’s crop of Ethel Bennett’s Ms. New York Senior America contestants — and they’re all 60 or over.

Bennett, who will turn 93 next month, was crowned the first Ms. New York Senior America in 1984-5, and acted as its first director shortly thereafter. She went on to direct the national pageant for another 18 years, until 2004. She is a licensed real estate agent, an actress, song stylist, and print model, and has performed in TV and radio commercials and in many local theatrical productions. She writes, directs and produces shows for organization functions, charities, hospitals and nursing homes, and writes a monthly column, “Age of Elegance,” for 50+ Lifestyles newspaper. Her biography, “Ring Them Bells,” was recently published.

Currently living in Florida, Bennett is active in her community — something, she said, that is vital to seniors.

“I’m very actively engaged in producing and writing, and I help to keep other people my age young … I help people accomplish their dreams — to complete their “bucket list”!

Bennett added that the current crop of Ms. New York Senior America contestants are more prepared and more talented than ever before. “They are involved … it’s not a beauty contest, these women have so many other wonderful qualities.”

Marleen Schuss, director of the pageant, is trained in ballet, and danced at Hofstra University, where she received her degree in elementary education and psychology. She went on to teach elementary school on Long Island. When her six children were grown, she established her own business in home and fashion design and pursued that career for many years.

In 1990, Schuss became associated with Ms. New York Senior America, and, working closely with Bennett, became co-director, and in 2006, director of Ms. New York Senior America.

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