O’FALLON, Missouri – A woman from O’Fallon, Missouri is out to show the world that the older generation shouldn’t be forgotten. Loretta Redmond is determined to challenge the status quo.
At 66, Redmond represented Missouri in the Miss USA state pageant, proving that the baby boomer generation still has a lot to offer.
Until now, the Miss USA contest was limited to contestants between the ages of 17 and 25. However, the age limit was lifted in January 2024, meaning Redmond and others will be able to take part.
“People ignore the Baby Boomer generation, which is the main reason I got involved. We are the most populous generation right now, but sometimes society forgets about us,” Redmond said.
Redmond’s decision was partly influenced by her daughter, who competed in the teen version of the pageant a few years ago. When the age limit changed, the two had planned to compete together, but her daughter ultimately decided not to participate.
Redmond will be competing against women of all ages, but the pageant is not just about beauty — it will also judge career achievements, community service and overall personal growth.
“They evaluate you based on what you’ve accomplished in your career, your contributions to the community and society and basically what you’ve accomplished as a person,” Redmond explained.
Redmond has been a breast cancer survivor since 2011 and has had a pacemaker since 1990 due to cardiac sarcoidosis. After a long career in health care administration and running her own practice management company, she retired in 2020 and now focuses on nonprofit work.
In 1996, she founded the Black Inventors Museum, which displays traveling exhibits around the country celebrating the work of African-American inventors from the 1800s to the present.
For Redmond, participating in the Miss USA pageant isn’t just about winning the title — it’s about ensuring that society and the world remembers the Baby Boomer generation.
“We may be retired, but we’ve worked hard and we’re still preparing to do more than just retire and travel,” she said.
