Ms. Senior Baldwin County pageant organizers are already gearing up for its annual contest.

Pageant director Charlotte Below has already set the date for Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Foley Civic Center. With four months to go until showtime, Below and fellow pageant planners are scavenging the county for contestants to strut their stuff after New Year.

“We have four contestants already,” Below said. “To be eligible, they must have reached what we call the ‘age of elegance,’ which is 60 years old.”

The four contestants currently signed up to participate span Baldwin County, including Janet Maxwell and Donna Tindell from Foley, Joy Turner from Daphne,  and Judy Watson from Bay Minette.

Below is hoping to have eight participants before starting workshops and dress rehearsals for pageant hopefuls.

The Ms. Senior Baldwin County pageant was founded in 2002 by Nancy Dean-Hunt, who won the state title in 2001 after snagging the Ms. Senior Gulf Coast crown.

“Whoever wins on the local level goes on to the state pageant,” Below said. “This is just a stepping stone to the national pageant.”

Ms. Senior America typically holds its pageant in October in Atlantic City, while the state pageants occur during the summer.

The Ms. Senior Baldwin County program boasts two state winners in the last decade, 2003 Ms. Senior Alabama Pat Johnson as well as the program’s founder. Both currently live in Foley.

 “We work really hard with our contestants,” Below said. “Our pageant is one of the best in the state. We’re in the top ten.”

Below took the director spot after acting as an interim last year. Below won the pageant in 2006 and has been working with the program every year since.

Contestants participate in four categories: talent, interview, philosophy, and poise.

 “We go all out for the actual pageant. We have such wonderful help from the people who work there at the civic center,” Below said. “Everything is just top notch, it’s top of line.”

For information on how to enter, contact Below at charlotte1234@centurylink.net