Joyce Reilly Clautice, of Alexandria, Virginia made 'first' and 'last' pageant history when she was crowned Ms. Senior America 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 23, 1999.  Ms. Clautice is the first Virginia representative in Senior America history to win the national title.  She is also the last Ms. Senior America of the millennium.*

Ms. Clautice competed with 32 state representatives in the usual categories of personal interview, philosophy of life, talent and evening gown.  Clautice, who has danced since childhood, performed an original ballet to "Chariots of Fire" in the talent competition.  In evening gown she wore a cream lace gown with a graduated hemline and three-quarter length lace mitts.

After 25 years of teaching, Clautice recently retired from Woodlawn Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia.  She tutors children and volunteers with the "stay at home alone" elderly.  She is a member of the national Osteoporosis Foundation, Mount Vernon Naval Officers Wives Club, Y-ME Breast Cancer, and serves as treasurer of both the Fort Belvoir Yacht Club and Virginia Senior America Cameo Club.

Clautice's philosophy (in part), "If your mind can receive it and your heart can believe it, then your body can achieve it," are words to live by.  She exercises with racquetball, golf, skiing and aerobics, travels extensively and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.  She performs with the Liturgical Dance Group of Mt. Vernon and the Cameo Jewels, a traveling entertainment troupe that supports the state pageant.

Joyce and her husband, Navy Captain William G. Clautice, recently celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary.  They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Ms. Senior America 1999
Joyce Reilly Clautice and Her Court

(Left to Right) 4^th Runner-up, Janet Kapela (Ohio); 2^nd Runner-up, Joan Sipich (Illinois); Ms. Senior America 1999 Joyce Reilly Clautice; 1^st Runner-up, Esther Kelter, (Arizona); and 3^rd Runner-up, Audrey Varlas (Maryland).

Download an Adobe Acrobat file of all the  1999 Ms. Senior America Contestants! 1999Contestants.PDF (1.20MB)

I wish to thank my wonderful dance troupe, "The Seasoned Steppers" for adding to the glamour of the 1999 National Pageant, they were terrific, led by their choreographer, Corliss Whitney, former Rockette (pictured at left).

Ethel Bennett
National Pageant Director

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*There is some debate about when the new millennium really starts.  Although most of the world will celebrate the start of the new millennium on January 1, 2000, the mathematically correct feel the next millennium really starts on January 1, 2001.