Irene Scheppers hadn't rehearsed any of her answers for the interview portion of the District 7 Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Pageant. The 96-year-old didn't worry too much about what the audience would think of her, nor did she fixate on her reflection that morning.
When Scheppers sat in front of the Capital Mall crowd, taking a series questions from the night's master of ceremonies, she simply shared stories from her life. It seemed to be enough for the 50 or so people watching the pageant unfold in front of JC Penney.
"I've had so many experiences," said Scheppers, tugging on the purple sash that continued to slip off her shoulder. "Life has just been such a dream."
Ten women shared the stage with Scheppers on Friday afternoon, all hoping to move on in the pursuit of the Missouri Health Care Association's (MHCA) Ms. Nursing Home.
The pageant's winner, 67-year-old Dorothy Veit of Westphalia Hills assisted living, will head to Branson in August for the statewide competition.
Although Veit was the only contestant standing at the end of the day, there wasn't an aura of competition on the makeshift runway in Capital Mall. Many contestants smiled at one another as they walked to the microphone, and even more seemed to root for their opponents.
At one point, sitting in a chair toward the front of the room, Scheppers looked up at a friend of hers and asked if she was still playing bingo. Hard of hearing, Scheppers didn't realize her voice carried over the emcee.
She was just too excited to see all of her friends.
"It was something that doesn't happen every day," Scheppers said.
Harry Horonzy, emcee for the afternoon and a longtime volunteer with MHCA, said the ceremony is marked on most participants' calendars for weeks prior to the event. It's easy to get lonely around the nursing home, he explained, and the women look forward to activities that get them moving. In April, many of the beauty queens competed in the MCHA senior olympics.
Horonzy and his fellow volunteers see the events as an opportunity to applaud the amazing residents of local nursing homes - people who have amassed thousands of stories over the years.
"It's about recognizing our seniors," he said. "Just saying, "Hey, I'm here.'"
Horonzy admits he never gets tired of hearing the stories people have to share. He almost didn't want the ceremony to end.
"I get enjoyment from their stories," Horonzy said. "I love these people."
There were more than a few anecdotes shared in response to Horonzy's questions. One woman spoke about the thrill of standing under Niagara Falls when she was a girl. Another discussed the time she met Bob Hope, noting that the beloved comedian was a bit "cheap."
The responses to Horonzy's questions varied from person to person, but a few answers were recurring. When asked about their greatest achievement, most smiled and said their husbands, families or friends.
"One thing I've learned about these people: they're happy," Horonzy said.
Up on stage, Veit talked about cherishing the relationships in her life. In addition to her friends at Westphalia Hills, she's become an aunt to 37 nieces and nephews.
The 67-year-old can't wait to tell more stories in August. Even though she acknowledges she didn't care about winning - a familiar sentiment - she's counting down the days until the next competition.
"I dreamt one day I'd get to go to Branson, but I never did think I would," Veit said. "I'm thrilled to death."