Brazil holds beauty contest for elderly ladies

Now in its 15th year, the contest aims to give the elderly a bit of fun

Miss Elderly 2018 Rosalia Pereira, 62, is crowned during the awards ceremony at a beauty pageant for elderly women ahead of Mothers Day, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 10, 2018.
AFP

Miss Elderly 2018 Rosalia Pereira, 62, is crowned during the awards ceremony at a beauty pageant for elderly women ahead of Mothers Day, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 10, 2018.

AFP

Brazilian Rosalia Pereira had two reasons to celebrate on Thursday: She was crowned Sao Paulo's senior beauty queen 40 years to the day since she and her husband went on their first date.

AFP

Now in its 15th year, the contest is run by a community center for the elderly in the northeast of the city.

AFP

Organizers whittled down more than 100 initial contestants to 25 finalists. On the day of the final, hopeful beauties aged between 62 and 77 paraded before a loud audience, mostly consisting of other elderly though not always.

AFP

Up for grabs were titles in five other categories: Miss Timidity, Miss Elegance, Miss Smile, Miss Congeniality and Miss Beauty. The previous editions' winners hung the sashes around their successors' shoulders.

Route 6