Written by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: left to right-Ms. Senior Michigan 2nd runner up Margreat Handley, Queen Pamela Kay Pearce and 1st Runner up Aggi Fisk. Photo courtesy of Pamela Kay Pearce
The Courier recently conducted interviews with the three finalists from Flint and the queen of the Ms. Senior Michigan Pageant, which was held at the OPC (Older Persons’ Commission) Theater in Rochester, Michigan.
Margreat Handley, age 71, from Flint, who was 2nd runner up, competed in the pageant because it celebrated mature women and their lifetime achievements, rather than focusing heavily on physical beauty.
Handley previously owned a beauty salon for 17 years with her husband Leon Handley, worked for L’Oreal teaching cosmetologists about chemical products and recently retired from a plasma center, where she helped make sure people could safely donate plasma.
Currently, Handley works for Catholic Charities as a prevention specialist, teaching nutrition, chair exercises and diabetes workshops at senior centers.
Handley said she found the pageant experience rewarding, with competitors being supportive rather than competitive, and particularly enjoyed the philosophy category where kindness emerged as a common theme.
Handley did Jazzercize for her talent.
She shared with the Courier how she will use her being named a finalist to encourage other senior women, as well a women of younger generations.
“I always wanted to bridge that gap, as far as seniors and younger women,” she said. “I would love to bridge that gap because, unfortunately, young people think we are rude. Not just rude, but nagging. They think that all we do is see their incompetence as young people. Young people just don’t understand us. They see a lot of older women that are always complaining and telling them that they don’t know what to do.
“I would like to bridge that gap where we could get their technology, and we could learn from them, and they can learn from us. I wish we could come together and bridge that gap because we could learn so much from them, and they could learn a lot from us: wisdom But, it has to be with the right seniors, and it has to be with the right youth…They have to have an open mind.”
Candace Moon-Carlson, of Flint Township, was also a finalist.
“I am a bodybuilder and they gave me a platform to inspire others,” she said. “I think God was leading me that way because I did a bodybuilding show that had evening gowns in it. I just tried it, and it was fun. And I’m like: ‘What else is out there for older women?’ And I found this…’
Moon-Carlson works for PACE (Providing All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) through Ascension Living, serving elderly populations in Genesee County. Her children are both doctors, and she plans to volunteer more with Senior Michigan Olympics to inspire healthy aging.
Besides working out daily and powerlifting, Moon-Carlson likes outdoor activities like bike riding and kayaking, as well as attending festivals and enjoying artwork and art classes with friends. She also told the Courier she reads the Bible and a daily devotion, and she “likes doing anything her grandson likes doing.”
Moon-Carlson shared that the pageant experience opened doors and created friendships.
Lila Bjaland, age 76, from Flint, overcame negative perceptions of pageants after learning from the 2024 Ms. Senior Michigan Shari Kay Burdt of Swartz Creek about the supportive nature of the competition.
Bjaland is a dancer and artist who performed to Sade’s “Smooth Operator” and does Latin fusion.
She was inspired by the other finalists and made deep friendships through the pageant.
Bjaland has created the Oasis program at Catholic Charities, focusing on celebrating women’s successes and self-care.
She is proposing a vaudeville show featuring five women finalists from the Flint area performing at Genesee County senior centers to inspire other seniors to showcase their talents.
“I have a lot of friends because I’ve danced since I was five, and I’ve involved in dance troupe and a lot of other stuff,” Bjaland said. “But the other finalists are people I would have never met.
“And I never went to a prom. I was a hippie dippy. I was too cool for a prom. So, what was really fun was dressing up…It was just fun to dress up and trade beauty secrets. It was a gift.”
Pamela Pearce, age 67, from Springport near Jackson, is the reigning Ms. Senior Michigan queen. After not placing in 2025, she returned in 2026 with renewed confidence, performing a hilarious monologue centered around realities of aging, instead of dancing, as she did last year.
“I love adventure,” Pearce said. “I’ve been skydiving, I’ve been parasailing and on a hot air balloon. I just love to be as active as I can.”
Pearce retired from the Department of Corrections food service and volunteers extensively through the Lions Club, USO, AmVets Auxiliary and her church, focusing on veteran services.
She will compete at nationals in Atlantic City on October 11 and has already made TV appearances and planned parade appearances throughout Michigan.
Pearce emphasized the importance of making more community impact and highlighted the supportive atmosphere among all contestants.
Her hope is that with the title she can get more attention on causes that matter, as well as improve fundraising efforts.
“Our group is trying to pass The Family Act so when soldiers, something happens to them, that the family won’t be lost. We’re trying to get legislation to take care of the family members as well. It’s still running around the house in D.C. But, it’s important to us.”
Pearce received not only the crown, sash and a plaque and I got her expenses paid to go to National Finals. There she could win a $4,000 travel stipend to support appearances and advocacy work across the country, a custom gold and diamond necklace and other prizes.
Read more about Ms. Senior Michigan, including how to enter for next year at https://msseniormichigan.org
