By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

All of the ladies who participated in the Southland Beauty Pageant were winners. They each received an award, flowers, and appeared to enjoy the festivities and extra attention.

The judges all commented on how difficult they found it to choose which of the ten contestants would be honored with the title of Ms. Southland and one of the four runner-up spots. The following four women were chosen as runner-ups based on their personality, physical appearance in relationship to age, ability to communicate and alertness, participation in nursing home activities and their attitude toward life.

1st Runner Up, Lucille Johnson

Johnson, a retired beautician, sometimes worked 10 - 12 hours days and often worked seven days a week. She says she and her customers shared a “mutual relationship based on love and respect.”

She was also an avid seamstress and says the invention of the electric sewing machine made a remarkable impact on her life.

When she and her husband retired, they moved to Daytona Beach, Florida. Johnson was active in the local Garden Club and won many awards for her flower growing skills.

Johnson was recently voted Valentine Queen by Southland staff and residents. She served as the Grand Marshal for the home's annual Southland 4th of July Parade. Her favorite activities at Southland are arts and crafts, parties and visiting with the staff and her many friends.

2nd Runner Up, Nettie Knight

Nettie Knight turned 103 on April 1st. She is the mother of four children and has 30 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and 3 great great great grandchildren. Not surprisingly, she says she loves spending time with her family. She often goes out with them for special family activities.

Originally from Whitesville, she likes going to the mall to shop, enjoys seeing her picture in the newspaper and looks forward to the Southland Beauty Pageant each year.

Knight was active in her children's school activities and enjoyed “serving and working in my church.”

3rd Runner Up, Nadine Treantafilos

Treantafilos, fondly known as Ms. T to many, is the mother of three children and has six grandchildren. She says, “I believe in doing my best and taking pride in a job well-done.”

Ms. T is not new to the world of beauty pageants. She was the first runner up in the Beaumont Cherry Festival Beauty Contest.

She is an ex-member of the San Diego Symphonic Chorale and also sang in her church choir. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi and was an active member in the San Diego Women `s Business Club.

Treantafilos met her husband and “love of my life” while serving in the United States Navy.

At Southland, her favorite activities are attending the Dixie Bells, playing bingo, Pokeno, visiting her friends and reading in her room. She is also a member of the Southland Resident Council.

4th Runner Up, Yvette Pizar

Yvette Pizar, originally from Mooseup, Conn., has traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. She is the mother of two children, has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She enjoyed a long career in women's fashion retail sales and was an interior decorator. Pizar also sewed and wore clothing she designed. She made floral arrangements for her home and the homes of family and friends.

Currently, she participates in arts and crafts, cooking classes and is a member of the Dixie Bells Women's Group at Southland. She loves getting dressed up, putting on makeup and “looking beautiful every day,” according to Southland activity director Angie Brown.

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