Reigning queen wows at national pageant
Reining Ms. Massachusetts Senior America Ethel Lee, left, and State Pageant Director Lorraine Gorman, right, pose together at the National Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October. For information about the 2015 pageant, contact Lorraine Gorham at 413-534-1318 or email lorraines352@aol.com. PRIME submitted photo
By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA. – For Ethel Lee, reigning Ms. Massachusetts Senior America, the recent trip to the national pageant in Atlantic City ended on an unexpected high note.
Her performance of “Summertime” from the 1935 Gershwin opera, “Porgy and Bess” not only garnered her rave reviews, it helped boost her to fourth runner up in the field of 42 women competing for the title of Ms. Senior America for 2014.
“The reaction to my song, not just from the [other] contestants but from the audience … everywhere I went, in the elevator, in the bathrooms … people were talking about it. It just blew me away,” Lee told PRIME. “I was told I got a standing ovation. I didn’t know that. I did the song and just went off the stage.”
Massachusetts Pageant Director Lorraine Gorham, who was among the nearly 60 local supporters who accompanied Lee to the National Pageant Oct. 26 to 31, said in her five years of directing the Massachusetts pageant she had never seen such an enthusiastic reaction to a contestant’s talent performance.
“She aced it in practice [too]. Her 41 other contestants were up and clapping for her,” Gorham said.
She added when Lee’s name was called as one of the top 10 contestants following the day of competition on Oct. 30, she felt Ms. Massachusetts “could be number one.”
Lee on the other hand, said she reacted to placing in the top 10 with the thoughts, “That’s great, and this is going to be it.”
When a repeat of her musical number and philosophy of life recitation during the Oct. 31 competition earned her a spot as one of the top four finalists, she was stunned.
“When they broke it down and they called fourth runner up, Ms. Massachusetts, I was, ‘wow, really, seriously … this is great, unbelievable!’” Lee said. “The other women were amazing, fantastic. To come in at the top, that was icing on the cake.”
Gorham said the last time the Massachusetts pageant contestant had placed in the top 10 was five years ago, when Bobbie Rennix came in as second runner up at the national pageant. She noted that the last contestant to place as fourth runner up was Mimi Tanne, who won that distinction nearly 20 years to the day from the afternoon Lee was named.
Reflecting on her national pageant experience, Lee emphasized, “How much of an honor and a pleasure it was to represent the state of Massachusetts” at Ms. Senior America.
“The people who were there to support me, who went on the bus. It really touched and warmed my heart to have that kind of support,” Lee said. “I really appreciated it.”
She added she wanted to publically thank Gorham, past Ms. Massachusetts pageant queens Jesse Rivers and Connie Lind, and CBS3 News Anchor Cherise Leclerc for their help in preparing her to compete on the national pageant stage.
Lee also said she discovered during those hectic days of rehearsals and performances in Atlantic City that she really wasn’t the kind of person who craves the pageant lifestyle.
“As much as I enjoyed the experience I really don’t think I’ll be entering any more pageants because people tend to want to change you and who I am has served me for 66 years and why should I want to change now,” Lee, who has a successful local singing career, said.
She said she truly appreciated the well-meaning advice of those individuals who gave her pointers about improving her musical performance and other areas of the competition, but realized “you have to learn to balance the advice and stay true to yourself.”
. The only thing she regretted not polishing more, she said, was her pageant walk.
“I should have focused more on walking with my head back and shoulders up, but when you aren’t used to doing that all the time, it’s hard,” Lee said. “At the time you [are walking] you are so nervous you’re just trying to get through it!”
As for those women who might be contemplating a run for the title of Ms. Massachusetts Senior America 2015, Lee has this advice – make the most of the pageant experience and have fun.
“If you embrace life with a sense of adventure and joy, the ‘Age of Elegance’ can be some of the best years of your life,” Lee said.
