By: Mary Frances Hansen
As a former Ms. Texas Senior America 1997, it is my privilege to interview our reigning Ms. Texas Senior America Queen, Joyce Brown. The beauty of our MTSA Queen Joyce is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of Joyce is seen through her eyes, because this is the doorway to her heart where love resides. When you shine within....you don't need a spotlight! Joyce has proven to be an example of our mission statement for the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant.
This Pageant is redefining the senior woman championing healthy aging, wellness and mental well-being. Joyce has had many opportunities during her reign to empower senior women, exemplifying the “positive image of aging,” promoting the senior woman in all her glory. She is a wonderful role model to her peers and the younger generation.
Joyce lives in Flower Mound and married to Lennel. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. She has a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Joyce worked 38 years in the technology field at two major companies. She had the opportunity to manage, mentor, develop, and empower many of her employees for 28 years. She retired from Abbott Laboratories after 30 years of service.
At the age of 59, Joyce felt she had to define 60 for herself instead of letting 60 define her. She started attending boot camp classes four to five times a week. She began losing weight and in four months lost 30 lbs. by changing her diet, eating healthier, and working out. In 2018 Joyce became a Certified Health Coach. Her certification supported her platform of Health and Fitness, while understanding the poor lifestyles that cause many diseases and the challenges and control food has on people. Her goal is to educate and encourage people to make better choices to improve their health and confidence.
Joyce felt good about herself and decided to step out of her box and do something she had never before entertained and that was to enter a senior pageant. She started searching on the internet and found the Ms. Texas Senior America website. You have to be 60 years young to enter the pageant and she had just turned 60. She called Dr. Syntha West , Contestant Coordinator and signed up for the MTSA pageant in 2018. She hired a choreographer to help her with a fitness routine to music for her talent. Joyce didn't win the title, but because of her positive attitude, she felt she was a “winner” in that she had the courage to even participate.
Joyce decided to enter the pageant again in 2019 and her choreographer changed her talent to a dance. She was stunning in her top hat and tails as she danced to the song, “I Won't Dance”, (from the musical Roberta) which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. After winning the coveted title of Ms. Texas Senior America, she competed in Atlantic City last October in the Ms. Senior America Pageant. She represented Texas and made us proud!
Joyce is a self -starter and has made over 70 appearances including parades. Several of her highlights were when County Commissioner Bobbie J. Mitchel presented her with a Proclamation proclaiming February 2020 as “Joyce Brown, Ms. Texas Senior America 2019 Month in Denton County in honor of Black History.” Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson invited her to be the Moderator for her Annual Senior Living Conference held in March at the University of North Texas Campus, Denton. Joyce also received her 2nd Proclamation from Texas Senator Jane Nelson who represents District 12.
As a MTSA title holder, her platform is to encourage women of all ages to step outside of their comfort zones and stretch themselves to live their best lives. She feels we should live our lives intentionally and purposefully, because we were not created to live average lives, but to be much more, overcoming our fears and become the best we can be! One of her favorite scriptures, Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power.” The choices we have made in our lives are lessons learned we can apply to future endeavors. Her goal is to inspire and empower her peers and the younger generation letting them know that failure is impossible when they put their best foot forward regardless of age. At 62 years young Joyce stated...”My life has really improved tremendously because I kicked open the box I had created for myself. I am stretching myself in ways I never would have considered 5 years ago.” •