Upfront
2019 Ms. Senior Arizona Ava Genung. (Photos by Pablo Robles)
Ms. Senior Arizona Ava Genung dances her way to a pageant win
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
must be age 60 and older and are judged Wearing her black and green pageant in four categories: philosophy of life, gown, Ava Genung sits at the dining judges’ interview, evening gown presenroom table of her elegant Scottsdale tation and talent. home in awe. “We learn from each of our ladies the value of perseverance, integrity, humor and love, to This group of women is name just a few of the prinabsolutely amazing. There ciples and qualities to live by,” says Herme Sherry, the was no competition. We pageant’s organizer. supported one another. Genung also took the top We loved one another. We talent award for her jazz dance to a Motown medley; encouraged one another. most photogenic and best - Ava Genung philosophy of life. 2019 Ms. Senior Arizona Her court is first runner up Connie Snyder of Chino She still can’t believe she was crowned Valley; second runner up Judy Ramsay of Ms. Senior Arizona the previous week at Sun City West; third runner up Annie Wall Valley Vista Performing Arts Center in of Sun City West; and fourth runner up Surprise. Jean Ingrum of Mesa. “It’s still so surreal,” she says with her Snyder was named most elegant, while wide smile. “It hasn’t sunk in yet.” Dale Chanaiwa of Phoenix was called The Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant hon- most inspirational. Autumn Montgomery ors the “Age of Elegance,” accentuating of Surprise took home Ms. Congeniality; the motivation and inspiration given and Barbara Snyder of Sun City was Ms. by senior women, grandmothers, and Moxy. great-grandmothers. The contestants Proceeds from the event benefit do-
mestic violence survivors, as the pageant is produced by The Cameo Foundation. “This group of women is absolutely amazing,” Genung says. “There was no competition. We supported one another. We loved one another. We encouraged one another. “There was no drama. It was like a party together. It was really wonderful. I would hope anybody who would even consider going forward with entering would go forward with it. It’s an amazing experience.” The 2019 pageant was Genung’s third try at Ms. Senior Arizona. “The third time’s a charm,” Genung says with a laugh. Genung will travel to Atlantic City to compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant on October 20.
Longtime performer Genung was born in Chicago, but moved to Arizona when her father, a Motorola employee, was transferred to the Valley. After studying at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and the University of Arizona, Genung and her husband lived in Idaho, San Diego and Alaska. “Our best friends were moving back up to Alaska and asked us to join them,” she says. “We just took a leap of faith and moved there. The girls were 1 and 3 and we moved up to Prince of Wales Island to an Indian village of 300 people. We taught there for two years.” They eventually returned to Tucson because they missed their family. Her husband, Herb, they have two daughters,
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The final six contestants eagerly wait for the results from the judges. |
MAY 2019
Jacque and Jennifer, and four grandchildren. Preston, Paxton, Blake and Lily. Calling herself 90% retired, Genung is an adjunct professor at Arizona Christian University. She supervises student teachers, providing professional development for educators across the country. Genung has been dancing since she was in the first grade. She slowed down after having hip surgery. “You don’t see high kicks and splits from me any longer,” she says with a laugh.
Show Off Your Talents
The search is on for the Cameo Foundation’s Ms. Senior Arizona 2020 contestants. Open to women ages 60 and older, the pageant is tentatively scheduled for March at Valley Vista Performing Arts Center, 15550 N. Parkview Place, Surprise. Radio personality Danny Davis will once again emcee. For contestant or pageant information, call 602-788-9556, email msseniorarizona2004@cox. net, or visit cameofoundation.org or msseniorarizona.com. www.LovinLife.com