Roslyn woman takes the stage for Ms. Senior America pageant

Amelia Camurati
Alicia Moss of Roslyn is poised to compete in the Miss New York Senior America pageant on Sunday at Molloy College. (Photo courtesy of Alicia Moss)

Alicia Moss of Roslyn still believes in chasing dreams as she competes in her first pageant this weekend at age 63.

Moss, who moved to Roslyn about six months ago from Garden City after spending 25 years in Manhattan, will join nine other senior women from across Long Island at Molloy College on Sunday for the 33rd annual Ms. New York Senior America pageant.

“I’m a singer, and my singing teacher thought it would be great for me to get involved with this because I do volunteer work,” Moss said. “I sing at Threshold Choir, which sings a capella to people who are passing, and I wanted to get involved in something on Long Island.”

Moss said the purpose of the Ms. Senior America pageants nationwide is to engage in programs and activities that dispel the myths of aging by enhancing the lives of senior Americans.

The pageant is “a joyful thing,” Moss said, designed to help keep seniors active and engaged, offering group activities for contestants.

The competition is structured similarly to the Miss America pageants broadcast every year — though Moss joked there’s no swimsuit section of the event.

The 60-and-older contestants will perform their talent, typically a song or a dance, as well as tell judges their philosophy of life.

Moss said she will be singing “Here’s to Life” for her talent portion.

“I love that song,” Moss said. “I really believe that it’s a combination of all my experiences. I sang it at my 60th birthday party, and I thought it would be an excellent song to bring to this pageant.

Moss recently retired, selling her dog daycare and spa business in Harlem after 25 years before moving to the Long Island suburbs in 2016, and now said she spends her days on long bike rides to Jones Beach and performing around the island, including on Aug. 21 at Grasso’s in Huntington.

Tickets for the 2:30 p.m. event on Sunday at Madison Theater are $25 and can be ordered via phone at (516) 323-4444.

For more information on the pageant, contact Marleen Schuss at (516) 761-7503.

Reach reporter Amelia Camurati by email at acamurati@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 215, or follow her on Twitter @acamurati.

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