She’s 67 but Acts like 27? Young Juliet Pereira Crowned ‘Mrs. Karnataka 2019’ in Senior Category
She’s 67 but Acts like 27? Young Juliet (née Pereira) Mascarenhas Crowned ‘Mrs. India Karnataka 2019’ in Senior Category in the Beauty pageant held in Bengaluru. On her achievement She was felicitated by the members of Senior Citizens Welfare Association of Bejai Church, Mangaluru on 21 June 2019.
Mangaluru: Old is Gold!-that’s right. We don’t believe age is any more than a mere number. When looking at some of the vintage revelers belonging to various Senior Citizens organizations in the City engaged in co-curricular activities- Look at them go! Even in the glorious age of white hair and senior citizen discounts, their inner children are not only alive and well, they’re shaking things up too… literally. They are getting with the groove, boogey-ing, dancing well, singing oldies, and having some fun and frolic. As they say that “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- there is no age limit when you are capable of having some fun and want to party- even senior citizens know how to party hard and have fun and frolic.
“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” had said George Bernard Shaw. And among all these young vintage revelers from our City, there is one young lady who is just 67 but acts like 27, showing off her hidden talents in the form of dancing, oration, and unbelievable stage performance. She can swing her body and can do acrobats like a teenage girl, even though she is in her golden ripe age. She mesmerizes the audience whenever she does an act or a dance, and the crowd goes “Wow”- and that’s the capacity of this lady. Meet the multi-faceted personality, Juliet (née Pereira) Mascarenhas, hailing from Bejai, Mangaluru, who recently won the FIRST place as “Mrs. India Karnataka 2019” in the Senior Category Beauty Pageant held in Bengaluru on 8 June 2019, an initiative by Ms. Pratibha Saunshimath, the organizer and Director of Pratis Events. Prior to winning this title, she was the First Runner-Up as “Mrs. Mangaluru 2019” in the Beauty pageant organized by Mercy Salon- Mangaluru and Pathway Events, Mangaluru.
Apart from winning the Mrs. India Karnataka 2019 title in the Super senior Category, Juliet also received special titles as “Mrs. Confident 2019”, and “Mrs. Most Popular 2019”. The mission of the Mrs. Karnataka pageant was to present “a positive image of aging. “Mrs. India Karnataka Pageant aims to empower women and enrich opportunities for personal growth. Mrs. India Karnataka inspires women of diverse backgrounds and culture to come together nationally and internationally, support lifelong commitment to uplifting those in need and develop a sense of global responsibility. The pageant is not looking for models. It is organized to make role models. According to Pratibha, “Mrs. India Karnataka is the only beauty pageant that celebrates beauty in diversity.
The event aims at reaching every nook and corner of the State and to bring out the talents among married women and giving them a prestigious platform to showcase themselves to the rest of the world. Beauty is not limited to the young. Women the ages of 60 to 90, the “Age of Elegance,” are being celebrated for their beauty as well. In this case, age is truly nothing but a number- and for that matter, Juliet (née Pereira) Mascarenhas has proved it right through her talents in shining and bringing a name to her Hometown Mangaluru by bagging three titles in the Beauty pageant.
When you look at Mrs. Juliet’s age, many in her age might have had surgeries, hip replacement, car accidents, deaths, divorces … you name it, and many have been through it. It’s how you react to it and how you grow from it that gives you wisdom. But this pageant has given the opportunity to pass that wisdom down to “younger” generations. They are mothers and grandmothers — having survived illnesses, lost spouses and children. This pageant is the camaraderie of the ladies and even though they’re at this stage in their lives, they still have so much to offer and so much to share, and “Young and Energetic” Juliet in her sixties is a perfect example, showing that you can still be young even though you are old?
Mrs. Juliet says that the pageant schedule was packed with rehearsals, costume changes, lots of make-up, talents check, etc. Through it all the contestants manage to maintain a smile and demonstrate grace under pressure — all while wearing high heels. She says that some teenage participants even walked on her feet, and even though it hurt, she kept quiet as part of being patience, criteria of the contest. The panel of judges begins evaluating the participants with the first interview. The Inner Beauty category was next, where the elder women shared their “Philosophy of Life” in front of an audience, followed by the evening gown and talent portions of the competition.
Born in Bejai, Mangaluru, after completing her college at St Agnes College, Mangaluru, Juliet joined Vijaya Bank and retired as Chief Manager (1972-2012), after which she involved herself in many activities in social organizations. She was the treasurer of Rachana Catholic Chamber of Commerce; Ex-Director of Maco Co-Operative Society Ltd; Ex-Committee member of Agnesian Alumni Association; President of Lions Club-Balmatta, and won Excellent President Award from Lions International President; Extension Chairperson of Lions Club Centennial Club; and is the Founder-Chairperson of Senior Citizens Welfare Association-Bejai Church, Mangaluru, and currently serving as president of that Association. She has excelled in various sports activities, having received many prizes. Apart from a good dancer, she likes gardening, singing, music, cooking, and oration.
Married to Mark Pereira, now a retired Bank Officer, Juliet is a proud mother of four siblings, three sons- ( Chester, a M Sc engineer working in Bengaluru; Lester, also a Engineer working in Bengaluru; Aster, also a engineer employed in Australia, and is married to Carol (IT profession) and have a baby boy, Brandon;) and one daughter, Nikita, a Post Graduate in Business Management working in Bengaluru. After all, she is an active and proud mother of these four children, and her only wish is that her children follow in her footsteps and be responsible human beings and make her proud. I bet they will do!
Speaking to Team Mangalorean about her future endeavors, Juliet said, “It’s never too late to dream a new dream, and it’s never too late to live out an old one. I think when you can you should share your experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm for life. We need to dispel the myths of aging. When the judge asked me at the Bengaluru Beauty pageant whether I was confident in winning the title, I said I was 100% sure, since I was confident that I was better than others. Having achieved success in the Bengaluru pageant, I am going forward to contest in the Senior Citizen Mrs. India pageant to be held in Chennai in July, and never know, if God blesses me I will even enter the Senior Mrs. World Beauty pageant. I am determined and a go-getter, and will take up the gauntlet in entering the future contests. I need your support and encouragement”
Wow, well said by young and energetic vintage mama Juliet, it’s time that other vintage mamas follow in her footsteps and accept the gauntlet in entering in the future beauty pageants for Seniors, after all you live only once- and if you have the talents at the golden ripe age, why not step into the challenge, and make a difference. Yes, believe it or not, the present seniors are the new hipsters. The generation gap has changed. These days you can see seniors wear the same embellished sneakers, off-shoulder tops and trendy nail polish millennials do. They’re just as adventurous — and it’s no longer any difference between younger women and older. “Fresh, healthy and fit” is the new “growing old gracefully.” Aging in place is no longer an option.
Seniors are not invisible; they’re invincible! Women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are no longer waiting to be noticed. They use their voices and presence on social media to show how informed, global-minded, outspoken, opinionated and tech-savvy they are and seek like-minded friends and confirmation of their ideals and goals. Remember: Intelligence, a sense of humor and self-confidence are the sexiest things about them. And kudos to Juliet Mascarenhas for showing the rest of the senior flock, that age is just a number, and everyone can perform and be like her if there is a way and will. And to the members of Senior Citizens Welfare Association of Bejai Church, you all did a great gesture in honoring your president who has made a difference and shown the world that even Seniors can Rock and reach to the top in golden ripe age. To Ronnie Fernandes, the Vice President and a bunch of other energetic members of this Association, who arranged this felicitation to honor their Association President is very appreciable. After all SENIORS ROCK in the present era, unlike the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.
Congratulations from Team Mangalorean to Juliet (née Pereira) Mascarenhas for her achievement, and wish her all luck in her future endeavors. You Go Girl?
Congrats A. Juliet. U rock:). Veena, Auckland