Woodland resident Caliatra Riesterer was crowned Ms. Senior Washington USA is September.
Riesterer aims to live up to her crown by making a difference in the community.
“It’s pretty special,” Riesterer said. “I was Ms. Oregon in ’08, and lost to Ms. Washington in nationals.”
She said the national competition isn’t until 2023, so she plans to fill her time doing various activities in the community. Riesterer said Longview Mayor MaryAlice Wallis and Sheriff Brad Thurman crowned her at the pageant.
“It’s an honor,” she said.
Riesterer is excited to share her platform with more people.
“I am a two-time widower, and my goal is, in Washington, to have a widower’s group. But my platform also at the pageant will be teaching people how and why they should minister to the support of widowers, and the lack of support they receive in the community,” she said.
Riesterer works as a chaplain at various nursing home ministries and end-of-life wards. She wants to attend various businesses and clubs in the community to share her story and let people know “you’re never too old to make changes in your life and to go forward,” she said.
The loss of her two husbands made Riesterer reflect and adjust her focus prior to the recent pageant.
“I just really wanted to put out there that everybody somewhere in their life, either their mom or their dad or their grandmother, somebody’s going to face (death), and making sure there’s somebody there to support them when they go through it,” Riesterer said. “I’ve talked to people now that are five or 10 years out and nobody has ever reached out to them about it.”
In the next year, she plans to attend and speak at a number of parades, council meetings and organizations. She also wants to visit various nursing homes to meet senior citizens.
At the same time, Riesterer is also working on an autobiographical book. The book does not have a title yet, but will cover her “road to the crown,” from her childhood to the present day, she said.
Besides local events, Riesterer also plans to attend New York fashion week and was also offered a position to be a contestant on Family Feud, she said.
“It should be a busy year,” she said with a laugh.
Wherever she goes, Riesterer hopes to leave an impact on the people she meets.
“I just want them to know that (at) any age, you can change your life, whatever it is,” she said. “If I can get through what I’ve gotten through, I think anybody can.”
If she wins nationals, she plans to run for Ms. Senior Universe, she said.
Besides nationals, Riesterer will also marry her fiance, Rolland Wright, on Oct. 8, she said.
