Jean Margaret Jones, a Peninsula-area resident for nearly three years, has been showing women that competition isn’t just for the young.
Jones, 62, took home the first-place trophy and sash for the Ms. Senior West Los Angeles Pageant that took place in Seal Beach on Saturday, July 14, she said. The pageant is open to any woman over the age of 60, she said.
“It is a pageant, but it’s not about beauty,” Jones said. “It’s about what you bring to your age group.”
Jones, who is from Point Loma, placed first in a field of 14 contestants who entered the “Age of Elegance” Pageant. As the winner of this round, Jones goes on to the Ms. Senior California, slated to take place in Westminster, in September, she said. Winners of the state pageant go on to compete in the Ms. Senior America in November in Las Vegas.
Jones also earned an appearance on the “Florence Henderson Show” on Aug. 1. Henderson is best known for playing mother Carol Brady on the smash comedy series “The Brady Bunch” in the 1970s.
Jones will also appear on the Retirement Channel show “Living Live,” which tapes on Wednesday, Aug. 1.
Jones said she has competed in a few pageants over the years. This one was different because ” although the ladies are competitive ” they’re not mean, she said.
The pageant included a talent segment as well as a “philosophy of life” segment where the ladies are allowed about two minutes, 45 seconds to espouse their view on life.
Although Jones has some singing experience, she decided to incorporate a unique Tahitian dance to stand out from the crowd during the talent segment.
“Every other person is a singer,” Jones said, “and with the Tahitian [dance] it’s in your face. It’s loud and it’s different.”
Jones said the competition isn’t necessarily just about winning. The pageant serves as an outlet for seniors who want to display their talent. She said not many events cater specifically to seniors and many women attend the pageants specifically for this reason, she said.
“It’s kind of like the Senior Olympics. You love to compete and love to just have fun,” she said. “To win was just like, wow.”
Originally from England, the mother of two and grandmother of five keeps healthy competition a part of her life.
Jones said she won five medals in track and field at last year’s Senior Olympics in Las Vegas. She said her husband of 41 years, Eric, will also represent England in this year’s Senior Olympics in Italy.
Jones and her family currently own and operate Eric’s Medical Supply, 5267 Linda Vista Rd. The store caters to seniors, where Jones encourages others to stay active as they age.
Jones’ daughter, Verity Comey, said her mother has always been a source of inspiration for her and Comey’s children.
When Comey was 16 years old she was diagnosed with cancer. She said her mother dropped everything to stay by her side during that traumatic time.
“It makes us strive to do our best when we see her being so strong and such an incredible lady,” Comey said.
Although Comey is now a cancer survivor, her mother still walks in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Three-Day Walk.
Jones participated in last year’s 60-mile walk over the course of three days.