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Bonnie Hughes was born into a family of educators on December 7, 1950, in Lincoln, NE. She is the product of the public school systems in Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, and Louisiana. She began dancing at age 3, which she continued through high school, and went on to attend Kilgore Jr. College and was a Kilgore Rangerette. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas – Austin with a degree in elementary education and speech. She began her teaching career in Metairie, LA. In the evenings, she spent her time at Gallery Circle Theater in New Orleans and had several leading roles in musicals. Leaving the theater to concentrate on graduate school in education administration, Bonnie moved to Houston, TX. She served the Houston Independent School District for 28 years as a teacher, teacher-facilitator, assistant principal, principal, and director of instruction and compliance. The arts were always an important part of the curriculum in her elementary schools. Retiring after 31 years in public schools, she moved to Carriere, MS, in 2004 where she became active in Picayune On Stage productions as an actress, the art director, and grant writer. She has served as the Assistant Director of the Ms. Mississippi Senior America Pageant for the past 6 years. Just recently, she has become involved with the South Pearl River County Senior Center where she is working with a committee on an accreditation plan for the center. Bonnie teaches water aerobics during the summer at Hide-A-Way Lake. Her next adventure is to start TREAT Productions – The Retired Educators Acting Troupe. It will be a field trip on wheels concentrating on skits, songs, and poems for primary level children. With the budget cuts in all of our public schools, she is eager to bring children’s theater to the schools in Mississippi. She enjoys acting, reading, art, decorating, and her two Bichon Frise puppies – Deuce and DeeDee.
In 2003, Bonnie entered her mother Gladys Hughes, in the Ms. Mississippi Senior America pageant held in Gulfport, MS. Her mother won that pageant, and they have enjoyed their affiliation with the Senior America Pageant organization ever since. They believe that they are the first mother and daughter to both represent their state in the national pageant.
One of Bonnie’s favorite quotes is by Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left. And could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”
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The Ms. Senior America Pageant is
the world's first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to
women who have reached the "Age of Elegance." It is a search
for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and
inner beauty of all senior Americans. The Ms. Senior America philosophy
is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America, and our
most valuable treasure. It is upon their knowledge, experience and
resources that the younger generation has the opportunity to build a
better society.
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