Women over 60 are rocking Long Island!

Nine of the 11 contestants that are in this year’s pageant are, from left, Gerry Russell, Shirley Darkeh, Doris Bodine, Dolores Hofman, Marleen Schuss, state administrator, Marie Quigley, Jean Boyton, Judy Berman, Margaritra Rojas and Teri George. The other two contestants are pictured below: At left, Paula Zdazenski and Celeste Belletti, at right

Mary Malloy/Herald

Reigning queen CJ Marie

Courtesy Ms. NY Senior America

The reigning Ms. New York Senior America, C.J. Marie, far left, will crown the 2016 winner at Hofstra on April 3. Pictured with her are former queens Kay Hill, Elisabeth Zamarelli, pageant director Marleen Schuss, and former queens Kathi Keating, Virginia Werner and Jane Rubenstein.

Mary Malloy/Herald

Pageant director Marleen Schuss greeted new contestants at an orientation meeting held at the Massapequa Library earlier this year.

Mary Malloy/Herald

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When you think of a beauty pageant, a few things may come to mind: beauty, youth, elegance, poise — and for the Ethel Bennett’s Ms. New York Senior America pageant, most of that applies, with one exception — these women are all over 60 years of age. And they are coming from all over the state to rock Long Island!

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 contestants that will take the stage on April 3 at Hofstra University’s John Adams Theatre in Westbury.

Ethel Bennett, for whom the New York division was named, was crowned the first Ms. New York Senior America, on the national level, in 1984 , and acted as its first director shortly thereafter. She’s now in her nineties, and is still an integral part of the organization.

Marleen Schuss, the director of the New York 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.

“The women of N.Y. Senior America carry forth the message that we’re aging in productive and interesting ways,” said Schuss. “We offer women 60 years of age and older the opportunity to display their inner beauty, talents and elegance. It’s the time of life when women can seek things out, step out of the box, and break the stereotyping that we’re ‘over the hill.’”

Here she comes …

On April 3, a panel of five, carefully selected judges (whose names are not revealed until the day of the pageant) will ultimately choose the one gracious lady who best exemplifies the qualities of the modern dynamic senior woman.

The contestants will be judged on their personal interview with the judges, conducted the morning of the event (30 percent); the evening gown presentation (20 percent); their pre-written philosophy of life (30 percent), and their talent (20 percent).