Dixie Makepeace Ford, a 1971 graduate of El Dorado High School, was crowned Ms Senior Arkansas America 2018 at the 31st annual state pageant.
The pageant, which took place last month in Alma, Arkansas, scores contestants on interview, talent, “philosophy of life” and evening gown.
“My philosophy of life was to choose to be happy,” Ford said. “Happiness is a conscience and purposeful choice we make each day in every encounter of life. For those things that are positive, I relish, and for those things that are negative or adverse, I rise above … after all it is my choice. And for the remainder of my time left on earth, my choice is to be happy.”
Ford, who is now a Hot Springs resident, said she chose that philosophy because she is a three-year breast cancer survivor.
“During my journey of chemo and radiation and just trying to live, I realized that my life up to this point has not been a dress rehearsal,” she said. “I realized during that time that the time I have left on this earth now is not only measured, but is precious to me and I don’t want to waste a single moment in anything that’s negative or in conflict or drama … I only want to be happy for the rest of my life.”
Ford said she has never been in a pageant before or even had an interest to be in one. When she retired, she was looking for something to do in her free time and joined the Hot Springs Senior Citizens Center.
At the center, she joined the tap dance class which was taught by Patricia Genovese, Ms Senior Arkansas America 2016.
Genovese encouraged all of the tap dancers to consider competing in the pageant and representing their tap group, Spa City Tappers. Ford’s goal was to win the talent portion of the pageant for her class, and performed a tap routine to “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra.
Although she did not win the talent portion of the pageant, Ford said she was “totally shocked” when she was crowned queen.
“I was not prepared for that at all. … Once in a lifetime miracle is what I call it,” she said laughing.
Ford humbly said she wasn’t great in all of the aspects that contestants were judged on, but said she was consistent.
“I was not the best in every area, but I felt like I was constantly strong enough to hold my own,” she said. “I really believe that’s what did it for me. It wasn’t the best, it wasn’t the greatest, but it was consistent.”
Genovese said she spoke with one of the judges after the pageant, who said Ford “exudes elegance.”
“She’s a real people person, caring person and she was able to convey all of those qualities in the interview,” Genovese said.
While being Ms Senior Arkansas America, Ford said her main goal is to promote the pageant throughout the state.
“Everywhere I went, everyone said ‘well I’ve never heard of that,’” she said. “So my goal this year is to make sure that in 2019, when it’s held in Hot Springs, that we have contestants that represent the entire state. It’s just a fabulous opportunity and experience.”
Ford’s family was also in attendance at the pageant, which “meant everything” to her. Ford’s 95-year-old mother, Marjorie Makepeace of El Dorado, was there to support her, and was even brought on stage when Ford was crowned.
“I’ve really never done anything that gave the family an opportunity to support me and it meant everything to me that everybody supported me,” Ford said.
In addition to her husband, her brothers and their wives traveled from El Dorado to the pageant and Ford’s daughter flew in from South Carolina to support her.
“It was so affirming to me,” Ford added.
Ford is a registered nurse under the Utilization Management program at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, where her husband, Dwight, is also employed.
Ford will head to the National Ms Senior America 2018 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October, where she will compete against 45 contestants.
Ford said the pageant was an awesome experience and it’s something “everyone should put on their bucket list to do.”
The pageant, which has been held in Alma for the past 31 years, will be held in Hot Springs next June with Genovese being the new director. The pageant is open to all women over the age of 60.
“This is not a beauty contest. If it was, I would not have won,” Ford said. “But it is so much more. It’s your age of elegance. It’s everything that you’ve learned in all of your life all wrapped up into one tidy little bow. It’s your wisdom, knowledge and courage … It’s just an awesome experience.”
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].