Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant
For three consecutive years, I photographed the Ms. Senior Arizona pageant, a beauty pageant for women who have reached the “Age of Elegance:” at least 60 years. My first instinct was to show what the audience doesn’t see. The preparation, anxiety, excitement, and overall emotion of the contestants backstage. These women put in a ton of work and the show is outstanding. Spending time photographing this pageant has been one of the highlights of my career. (Oh, and I also spent one year photographing portraits of each contestant before they took the stage.)
Jarod Opperman's photograph of a senior woman in formal dress standing by red theater curtains in dim lighting.
Group of women in a dressing room with mirrors, clothing racks, and lights, preparing for the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant, by documentary photographer Jarod Opperman.
Photographer Jarod Opperman shows two women in a dressing room, one applying makeup to the other, seated in front of a mirror surrounded by lights. The seated woman has gray hair and is wearing a shirt with a sequined scarf. The dresser is cluttered with makeup and personal items.
Documentarian Jarod Opperman's photograph of a close-up of hands with rings and a sequined green sash on a white ruffled blouse.
Elderly women wearing green sashes walk down a hallway towards a stage in this documentary photograph in Phoenix AZ.
A woman in a colorful, elegant gown walks on stage while several other formally dressed people stand in the background near a golden curtain. The stage has floral decorations in the foreground, a documentary photograph.
Documentary photograph of an elderly woman with white hair and large earrings in dark setting backstage at the Ms. Senior AZ pageant.
Event photograph of women in white blouses and green sequined sashes backstage, one wiping tear.
Two women in elegant gowns praying in a dimly lit room with purple lighting by Documentary photographer Jarod Opperman.
Side profile of a senior woman having a microphone applied to her face in dim lighting backstage at the Ms. Senior Arizona pageant.
Three women in formal evening gowns stand backstage beside a blue curtain, preparing for the Ms. Senior AZ pageant in Phoenix.
A group of entrants in the Ms. Senior Arizona pageant in colorful costumes backstage, laughing and interacting. One person is dressed in a red flamenco dress, another in a black and pink sequined outfit, and others in various costumes.
A senior woman in a red sequined dress sitting on a stage floor, doing the splits, backstage near stacked chairs at the Ms. Senior AZ pageant by Phoenix documentary photographer Jarod Opperman.
Two mature women with white hair and elegant dresses in dramatic lighting, wearing statement necklaces in Phoenix at the Ms. Senior Arizona pageant.
Silhouette of a person behind a translucent curtain with a purple and blue hue preparing to take the stage at Ms. Senior Arizona.
Backstage view at Ms. Senior Arizona pageant of a theater with performers in costume preparing, dimly lit stage area visible, "Quiet Zone" signs posted on walls by photographers Phoenix AZ Jarod Opperman.
Two people in formal attire standing backstage in a dimly lit theater, partially illuminated by a blue spotlight, surrounded by dark curtains and stage equipment at the Ms. Senior AZ pageant.
Documentary photograph of women in elegant evening gowns stand in line on a dimly lit stage at the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant in Phoenix AZ.
Women in formal attire wearing "Ms. Arizona" sashes, holding trophies, react in shock and enjoyment at the announcement of the winner of the Ms. Senior Phoenix AZ pageant.
Two elderly women, one wearing a tiara and a red dress, embracing and smiling on stage at the Ms. Senior Arizona pageant, by Phoenix AZ photographer Jarod Opperman.
Documentary photo of the back view of an elderly woman in a red gown holding a trophy and bouquet on a decorated stage after winning the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant in Phoenix AZ.
Well. Now That’s out of the way.
Let’s chat.