Gaya Kalp-Jackson Crowned Ms. Senior Long Beach!

Online, July 4, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Gayla Kalp-Jackson from Moorpark was crowned Ms. Senior Long Beach 2013 at the seventh of eight preliminary pageants for the Ms. Senior California Pageant held Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Long Beach Senior Citizen Center. Kalp-Jackson will now advance to the State Pageant to compete for the title of Ms. Senior California in August, along with first runner up Esther Kenyon from Hawaiian Gardens. The Ms. Senior California State Pageant will be at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster on Saturday, August 31, 2013. Second runner-up went to Jan Fowler of Redlands. Marilyn Breeze from Huntington Beach won the talent portion of the pageant with her piano expertise playing "The Warsaw Concerto".

Throughout the competition, the contestants competed in four categories including: Personal Interview, Evening Gown, Philosophy of Life and Talent. Kalp-Jackson's walk across the stage to accept the tiara, sash and trophy marked her first steps on a journey that will take her from spotlight to spotlight representing the American woman 60 years of age and up who has reached the 'age of elegance'.

Kalp-Jackson started her career as a professional actress on stage, TV and film and toured all over Europe with the American Theatre Co. After that career, she went back to college and earned two Masters Degrees; one in Education and a second in Psychology and then earned a Doctorate in Business Administration. She had a successful international cable television management firm for 23 years and was a featured columnist for three industry magazines. She was named Queen of Cable Television by the National Cable Television Association. After earning her Marriage and Family Therapy license, Gayla began her third career as the psychotherapist for the Glendale Police Department working with gangs and troubled teens. She is heavily involved in charity work, and pro bono psychotherapy. Gayla is married and has 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world's first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to women who have reached the 'Age of Elegance'. It is a search for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all Baby Boomer and Senior women. The Ms. Senior America philosophy is based upon the belief that Baby Boomers and seniors are the foundation of America, and one of our country's most valuable resources. Women and men alike of these generations inspire their peers and younger generations to stay vital and connected to life! It is also upon their knowledge, wisdom and experience that younger generations have the opportunity to build a better society.

The final preliminary pageant will be the Ms. Senior Santa Clara Pageant on Saturday July 20, 2013 at 1:30 PM. It will be held at the Valley Village Retirement Community, 390 N. Winchester Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95050. If you are interested in being a contestant, please contact Santa Clara Pageant Director, Nellie Robinson-Ortega at 408-857-4565 or email [email protected].

Sponsors of the Ms. Senior California Pageant include: Emeritus Senior Living, Kaiser Permanente - Medicare & State Programs, Aetna West Region-Medicare Supplement Plans, and CareMore Health Plan. For more information on becoming a sponsor of the Ms. Senior California Pageant Program, contact Pamela Wheeler, California State Pageant Director and CEO of the Ms. Senior California 501(c)3 organization at [email protected].

Dr. Al Mott, in the state of New Jersey in 1972, started the Senior America Pageant Program. In 1986, the California Chapter was created under the leadership of Ms. Elda Barry of Long Beach. She led the chapter until her retirement in 1999. In 2000, Marilyn McCabe Kohler accepted the position of Director of Ms. Senior California. Since that time, the program has grown from one pageant to eight Preliminary Pageants and one Annual State Pageant. Upon Kohler's retirement in 2012, leadership of the California Program is now under the direction of Wheeler.