Brenda Ann Wolfe believes that luxury is not about shopping for finery or attending an event. True luxury is the love shared, and time spent with family.

Wolfe, a 60-year-old Queen Creek resident who formerly lived in Gilbert, won the 35th annual Ms. Arizona Senior America pageant on May 10 at Palm Ridge Recreation Center. For 35 years, the event has honored women who have reached “The Age of Elegance,” or 60 and older, and embodies their dignity, maturity and inner beauty. 

To start the pageant, judges interviewed the contestants individually. Then, the women performed an opening number on stage, together. 

Afterward, they changed into their gowns and returned to the stage one at a time to share their 35-second view on life. The talent show was the final event before the finalists and winners were announced. The highest-scoring contestant is crowned Ms. Arizona Senior America. 

The first, second, third and fourth runners up are Lynn Willocks, Connie Snyder, Deborah Brown and Lylla Alejandro, respectively. 

“I feel immensely honored,” Wolfe said. “I would love to be a source of encouragement and showcase the beauty and intention of this organization.” 

Hours of work go into preparing for the pageant — from the rigorous talent rehearsals, to gown and costume fittings, curating a wardrobe,       practicing walking the stage and delivering the philosophy of life. 

For Wolfe, pageantry is not about looks and vanity, it’s about contributing to society. 

“A lot of people think it’s just about beauty and swimsuits, and is overly sexy,” Wolfe said. “It’s absolutely not. It’s about supporting your community and bringing sunshine to people.”  

Visiting veterans’ homes and children’s hospitals are two of the ways in which she volunteers her time to give back to the community, bringing light to those who need it. 

The competition doesn’t stop the queens from forging bonds and becoming friends. Wolfe said that all of the contestants are there to support each other, despite the title they’re vying for. 

“These women are so precious,” she said. “To stand up and applaud, and make them feel like they’re worthy is important to me. As sisters in this pageant, we lift each other up.” 

As Ms. Arizona Senior, Wolfe will move forward to the Ms. Senior America pageant in Atlantic City in October.

“We are all very proud to have Brenda Wolfe representing our great state of Arizona,” said Marice Kunz, the three-year administrator of the Ms. Arizona Senior America Pageant. “Brenda is the epitome of what every queen should strive to be: kind, genuine, humble and full of grace toward all in her presence.

“She is a woman who is sincere, respectful, and she has a heart full of warmth.”

Kunz met Wolfe in February during the pageant’s introductory meeting, and have become good friends. 

Dance prodigy

Wolfe was born and raised in Rhode Island — first in Cranston and then in East Greenwich. Her father died when she was young, leaving her mother to care for the family. As a young girl, the dance prodigy won many dance competitions.

After high school, she studied fashion at the Community College of Rhode Island, as well as musical theater across New England and New York. 

Her pageant career began at age 16, when she won the Miss Teen Rhode Island talent award. One of those judges encouraged her to participate in Miss Rhode Island America. The pageant’s youngest contestant, she was successful, winning awards for being photogenic and congenial. From there, Wolfe won the crown at the Miss New England competition. 

“(Winning) blessed me in so many areas,” she said. “I was given a car, I had money for college, and modeling contracts with different bridal organizations and companies.”  

Wolfe moved to Arizona in her early 30s. The enduring heat and modern flair of the Grand Canyon State were worlds apart from the heavy rain and traditional neighborhoods she was accustomed to in New England. Wolfe said that, in time, she grew to love Arizona’s sunshine and lively nature. Her sons loved it, too.  

In 1997, she opened Balletto’s Leap of Faith dance studio, which she sold after 25 years.  While the dance studio was an important part of her life, she wanted to prioritize something that was also very important — her family. 

“I was having meals with my husband, maybe, one day a week,” Wolfe said. “With local and national competitions, I sometimes worked 120 hours a week. I wanted more quality time with my family.”

She prayed about the decision to sell and said she felt at peace once it was made. After closing that chapter of her life, Wolfe chose photography. Wolfe, who studied at the New York Institute of Art and Design, is the owner of BB Wolfe Photography. 

Now living in Queen Creek with her husband, Robert, Wolfe spends much of her time with her six grandchildren, Julian, Rosemary, Vivienne, Scarlett, Makenzie and Aiden. 

“I’m a very active and playful grandma,” Wolfe said. “I love these babies so much, and they know their Nona is going to pull out all of the stops to have fun.

“I feel blessed to be a grandmother,” she said, adding that they keep her young.

“I’m 60, but I’m a young 60,” Wolfe said. “I want to encourage others to stay young and active, and to only look forward, not back.”    

For more information about Ms. Senior Arizona, visit msseniorarizona.com.

This article appears in Jul 3-10, 2025.