‘Pink Lady’ vies for Ms. Senior California

Jackie Goldberg When Jackie Goldberg, a resident of Woodland Hills, strutted on stage during a recent beauty pageant, the audience could feel her radiance and energy.

But this was no ordinary pageant, and this is no ordinary woman.

Ever since someone told Goldberg, who will turn 73 in September, that she looked good in pink, she’s been wearing pink with pride.

Her husband, the late Walter Goldberg, a successful businessman, suggested using pink as a marketing tool and for 34 years Goldberg has been known as “The Pink Lady.”

Everything about Goldberg is pink: her house, her attire, even her attitude on life.

Her motto is to “live, love, laugh, and think pink,” which she expressed during the Ms. Senior Los Angeles County pageant.

Goldberg entered the pageant to answer a friend’s challenge, and won.

Each contestant was judged in different categories. Thirty percent of the overall score was based on personal interview, 30 percent on talent, 20 percent on philosophy of life, and 20 percent on how the contestant carried herself.

“The winner exemplifies what today’s senior should be,” Goldberg said.

For the talent portion of the pageant, Goldberg performed Shakespeare’s Hamlet monologue, “To be or not to be,” and transformed it into “To age or not to age.”

During the philosophy of life portion, she said, “My philosophy on life is to think pink and to feel the energy and aura a color can give people and let them see life through rose-colored glasses. Whoever comes in contact with this color shares my philosophy and sees love and inner beauty in everything and everyone around them. I’m lucky to share this philosophy my family, friends, community, the world we live in.”

Goldberg wore pink throughout the pageant, and when pageant officials announced her as the winner they didn’t call her by name but as “our own Pink Lady.”

Now, she’s vying for Ms. Senior California and if she wins she hopes to compete for Ms. Senior America.

The senior pageants usually call for women ages 62 and up. Goldberg said the age range is becoming a “hot bracket.”

Yet, Goldberg believes age is only a number and she refuses to be defined by her 73 years. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ll fight it (age) every damn bit of the way.”

In order to stay young, The Pink Lady remains active and keeps her body strong and healthy. She eats nutritious foods and takes dozens of vitamins every day. Her only weakness is ice cream, which she says she could eat all day.

“You live longer and much healthier if you take care of yourself,” Goldberg said. “I can’t understand people who sit around and do nothing.”

She’s also involved in her community and hopes to have a career in acting.

Goldberg’s first love remains her business, which she calls “‘The Pink Lady’ & Michele.” Goldberg sells resort women’s wear with her daughter, Michele, a Calabasas resident.

She’s also the vice president of membership for Toastmasters, a nonprofit service organization. She also volunteers at Kaiser hospital, takes acting classes as Pierce College, and even teaches a drama class for elementary school kids as the “Pink Grandma.”

On top of that, she has five children and six grandchildren, some of whom are local residents.

“We’re all very proud of her,” said Michael Penn, The Pink Lady’s oldest son. on life, Penn said, “I certainly don’t wear pink. . . (but) her zesfor life is contagious. We all wish we had her energy. She’s an inspiration with the way she attacks life head on. If we could bottle heenergy, none of us would have to work.”

“I think these are the best years of my life. My golden years,” Goldberg said.

“I’m still going strong.”

Ms. Senior California will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the Marina del Rey Hotel, 13534 BalWay in Marina del Rey. For more information call (310) 301-1000