97-year-old Janet Smith of Clarksville, Ark., won the 2023 Ms. Senior Round-Up, and heads to Little Rock next month for the finals. Smith was joined with Fort Smith Mayor George McGill.

Family members, friends and community members from all around Sequoyah County and Fort Smith attended the 2023 Ms. Senior Round-Up pageant that took place Friday.

The annual pageant had not been held since 2019 due to COVID-19. The event aimed to promote community involvement with residents in long-term care facilities.

According to organizers, the pageant served as a means to dispel the misconception that long-term care facilities are places that the public should stay away from, and to showcase that the residents are still active members of the community with much to offer.

Representing multiple counties in both eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, 10 contestants were selected, with one from each of their respective facilities, and they competed in the pageant. Each contestant appeared radiant in their beautiful new gowns, with meticulously styled hair and makeup as they were escorted onto the stage. The contestants were presented and interviewed in front of judges, including Mrs. Elite Arkansas. Fort Smith Mayor George McGill also attended the event.

The competition was won by 97-year-old Janet Smith from Clarksville, Ark. Smith will now advance to the finals in Little Rock in October, where she will compete against winners from other districts in the area.

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