Ready for the Runway

By Tracy Bell

Published: June 27, 2008

FREDERICKSBURG — Tyra Banks was nowhere to be found at Chancellor’s Village in Fredericksburg on Saturday afternoon.

Although that may come as no surprise to many, others may say her place should have been at the retirement facility, in order to crown the home’s Top Senior Model.

Chancellor’s Village and Home Instead Senior Care presented its version of Banks’ “America’s Top Model” show at 2 p.m., instead catering the runway competition to its seniors living at the residence.

By the end of the hour-long competition, two seniors — one male and one female — were crowned “Top Senior Model.”

Ten contestants vied for a chance to become Top Senior Model, with two men participating, and eight women. A third man was set to participate, but he was hospitalized at the last minute, according to Karl Karch, of Home Instead Senior Care. 

“The whole goal is to look and feel better as we age,” said Karch, who emceed the event. “It contributes to positive self-esteem, a healthy lifestyle and healthy aging.”

The event was made possible by a number of local sponsors, including Belk’s department store, which supplied clothing for the contestants. The contestants also had their hair and makeup done for the event.

The First Annual Top Senior Model competition included three judges: Valerie Hopson-Bell of ElderCare Connections, Executive Director Ron Branscome of the Rappahannock Community Services Board and Judy Scheibe of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The contestants were judged on criteria including style and poise, personality and creativity, spokesperson quality, runway presentation and makeover presentation.

Escorts from The American Legion were on hand to walk contestants down the runway while Karch read a biography of each contestant. As Karch read, each contestant took a little spin in front of the audience, and then in front of the judges.

Karch told the audience about the contestants’ birthplace, their first jobs, what they were wearing, their favorite on-screen couple and who they would most like to talk to if they were able to talk to anyone.

Contestant Louise King wore a bright pink outfit and smiled easily. Karch said her favorite leading man was always Ronald Reagan.

Contestant Betty Fish, who always loved Rock Hudson and Audrey Hepburn as an on-screen duo, wore a light-blue jacket paired with a brown dress. She once worked at a five-and-dime store, Karch said. 

Audrey Ferrell, another contestant, decided to try a different approach by doing a pose and strut in front of the judges’ table and blowing Branscome a kiss.
Finally, the moment of truth came when the judges were to determine who would walk away as the top senior models. After several minutes of suspense and a drum roll, the announcement was made:

“Homer Kline and Florinda Cooper, you are our Top Senior Models!”

The audience cheered as the winners were fitted with their crown, tiara and sashes.

“I’m delighted,” said Kline, after being crowned.

Swamped by people congratulating him and wishing to take his photo with Cooper, Kline said the most enjoyable part of the event was the camaraderie he felt with the group.

When asked if he thought he might win, Kline replied, “I hadn’t given it much thought. I did this on the spur of the moment.”

Cooper, who proudly wore her tiara, was happy with the outcome. 

“It’s really an honor to show people we can be happy and have fun and enjoy these new experiences,” she said.

Cooper said she felt it helped her in the event, being a regular exerciser. She said she enjoyed the camaraderie of the competition, the stage, getting dressed up and picking her own outfit out, with a little help, that is.

She laughed off a stage mishap, noting that she accidentally forgot her escort, leaving him onstage. When she remembered, she pranced back to get him, drawing laughs from the audience.

Cooper’s son Bruce Cooper, and his wife Donna Cooper, were in the audience for the event.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” said Bruce Cooper. “I was confident she would do well.”