Dr. Debra Canale, resident of Medford, recently won the title of Ms. New Jersey Senior America 2019, the pageant for women who have entered the “age of elegance,” or, 60 years or older. It was held at Harrahs Resort Hotel and Casino, on Wednesday, June 5 in the Concert Venue Theater. Canale was among 11 contestants who participated in the pageant, which dates back to 1971.
Now, she’s preparing to head back to Atlantic City in October for the national competition.
But before that, Canale needs to continue a year-long journey travelling around the Garden State promoting the positive aspects of aging, at age-related venues, as well as media appearances and parades. She is the featured performer in the New Jersey Cameo Club Showcases, the ongoing activity of the Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant Organization. When she travels, she hopes to be an inspiration to older women.
Besides working as a group exercise instructor, Canale is a self-taught gymnast, and at the age of 62, she decided to use her long-time athletic skills for her talent portion of the pageant. She impressed both the audience, and a panel of judges in the art of pole sport. Her grace and agility was noticeable as she swung effortlessly around the 30-foot high pole, climaxing with a slide to the floor in a perfect split.
“Of course, being 62, the joints aren’t as flexible as one would like them to have been. But the pole is actually an added component that gives you great core strength, upper body strength, and I think it should be introduced into all senior citizens’ houses,” said Canale. “You feel like you have a dance partner for life.”
In January, she randomly stepped into a pole class one day as a way to experience something different. Starting when she was a teenager in cheerleading, she had spent most of her life tumbling, a form of gymnastics that requires athletes to use their bodies to flip, twist, roll and jump most often used at cheerleading competitions and during gymnastics routines at the Olympics. When she saw that she could perform better with the support of a pole, she looked for classes that focused on the gymnastics, instead of a more “exotic practice.” When she found a gymnastics-focused class across the bridge, in Philly, she thought it was a perfect fit.
For the national title, unlike the state competition, Canale won’t be using a pole for her talent routine. Instead, she’s focusing on her experience in tumbling. In other portions of the pageant, she hopes that her involvement in the community will help her gain an impression with the judges, and of course, her having a couple degrees under her belt doesn’t hurt either.
“Find what you’re passionate about. Reinvent yourself, and don’t become a stagnant pool of water. Be the fountain that makes that water ripple,” said Canale.
