SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. — 74-year-old Margie Lang proved a hip fracture could not stop her from taking the stage Saturday in the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant. Lang, a retired business owner, not only performed flawlessly. She won the crown.
The mother of two and grandmother of eight took a fall five weeks ago and was advised by her doctor to take it slow.
“Luckily I didn’t need surgery but I thought I was out of the pageant. It was actually my fellow contestants who encouraged me to keep going,” said Lang, standing with her husband.
After weeks of intense rehab that gave her the strength to walk on stage with a cane Saturday, Lang beat out a formidable slate of 13 other contestants in a Sun City West auditorium.
Lang, who is experienced in musical theatre, wowed the judges with a vocal performance of “Broadway Baby.”
The first runner-up was 81-year-old Lylla Alejandro of Sun Lakes. During the talent portion, Alejandro delivered a smart and sassy comedy bit, riffing about women’s bras and life with a snoring significant other.
“You just have to push the pillow on his face harder,” she quipped. Alejandro also won the Miss Congeniality Award.
The “Ms. Arizona Senior America Pageant” features women 60 years and older proving their mettle in categories of evening wear, interviews, a personal statement and talent.
Second runner-up was 65-year-old Lynn Willocks of Scottsdale who got the crowd cheering with a skillful belly dance number.
64-year-old Lillian Faison of Kingman was third runner-up. A graduate of clown school (one of her many life endeavors), she performed a skit as her alter ego, “Sunny Hope.”
The queen, Lang, will compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City later this year. A crowd of about 200 were in attendance Saturday to cheer on the women.
The oldest contestant was Ellyn Mae Ullman, 84-years-young, of Sun City. Ullman is a widow with three children. She earned raucous applause after her vocal number.
2023 winner Christina Robinette gave up her crown. She will be a tough act to follow. Robinette was a finalist in the Queen's Court in Atlantic City. Her success on the national level ended a two-decade drought of queens from Arizona.
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