By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
Ruth Harcovitz is no stranger to the world of pageants.
The Needham, Mass., native is a professional singer and a former Miss Boston who competed for the Miss Massachusetts title when she was in college. Two years ago, she was first runner up in the Ms. Massachusetts Senior America pageant.
April 12 at Holyoke High School, her latest bid for the crown was successful.
But this long-awaited win was more than just a second chance at a dream.
Harcovitz said she sees the Ms. Massachusetts Senior America title as an opportunity to change the concept what aging means for women.
Here’s what she told PRIME:
Q: Why do you think the Ms. Massachusetts Senior America – and the National Ms. Senior America – pageants matter?
“First, I think [the pageants] are important because they encourage and empower women over 60. Contestants in the pageant serve as role models for younger people; they show that when you are older, life is not over. Every pageant contestant becomes a member of the Cameo Club. These women are beautifully coiffed, they have beautiful clothes, and they carry themselves well.
The second reason the pageants matter is that they combat the stereotype of women who are aging in the media.
You’re not old today when you are 70 and 80 – age is not a number, it’s an attitude. This is the time when women can come into their own and pick up any interests they may have let go by the wayside because they were too busy with family or career.
To sum it up, whatever age they are, [women] should feel they are in charge of their lives and can write their own script of what they would like their lives to be like.”
Q: What impact do you hope to have – and what causes do you hope to promote – during your reign?
“I perform all over the state [and] I want to promote the Ms. Senior Massachusetts pageant and the Ms. Senior America pageant all over the state. Because the pageant takes place in Western Massachusetts, people in Eastern Massachusetts don’t know about it.
I also want to empower women by being a role model. I’ve reached the age of elegance; I’m physically fit and I’m healthy. I want to encourage women to take care of their health. They overlook their own health because of the focus on their families. Even if they are not used to exercising, I want to encourage them to start. All the statistics say it doesn’t matter what age you are when you start it will be beneficial.
My other observation is that the biggest disease of our later years is loneliness. [I want to encourage women to] go volunteer to help someone … it doesn’t mean you have to do it in a formal way; you can just help a neighbor. Take a class if you have the opportunity. Find a way to stay in touch with young people. No matter what age you are, you have something to contribute.
Q: Looking back over the experience, what drew you to the pageant in the first place, and what was the most difficult part?
“[A couple of years ago] I was giving a concert in Wilbraham, Massachusetts and a woman came up to me after my performance and said ‘Have you heard of [the Ms. Massachusetts Senior America pageant]? I think you would be a good candidate.’ When I was in college I was in pageants and I thought, ‘Well, that is interesting that there is something called a senior pageant.’ I lost by one point [that year] so I figured I’d come back and give it another try [this year].
I would stay staying calm though the whole thing was the hardest part. I was very wired for this [this year]. It was rewarding to know I won Ms. Massachusetts Senior America this time.”
