BY STACIE LETT CAIN
When Ann Nivens entered her first pageant as a teenager, she had no idea what her life’s journey would be.
As a 15-year-old, she signed up for the Miss Clarendon County Farm Bureau Pageant in her hometown of Manning, S.C. “I won the pageant and competed in the state pageant, but I didn’t place there,” she said.
More than five decades later, in a full circle moment, she was crowned Ms. North Carolina Senior America.
After completing high school and college, Nivens pursued a career in education. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University in 2006, the crowning achievement in a career that began in 1976. Her curriculum vitae includes several notable recognitions, including Teacher of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, and the Distinguished Star Award for Educational Improvements as a principal in Charlotte. Nivens held principal and superintendent certifications, and even after retiring in 2010 she spent the next decade serving as interim principal at 21 Charlotte area schools.
She continues to be a fierce advocate for children as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, advocating for abused and neglected children in court proceedings. She has served as president of the Mooresville/lake Norman Rotary Club, where her commitment to “service above self” has been a lived value.
At age 69, she again heard the call of the pageant life. After a conversation with a woman during a beach vacation, she made the decision enter the Ms. Senior America Pageant in 2024.
“I had never heard of it so after the suggestion I decided to check it out,” Nivens said. “I entered and was the first runner-up in that pageant. I re-entered in May 2025 and won.”
As Ms. North Carolina Senior America, she earned an invitation to the National Ms. Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City in October. It was in Atlantic City that Nivens had one of her most cherished moments in her pageant history.
“It was on the huge Tropicana stage as a state finalist,” she recalled. “The stage was lowered and rose with the finalists, all holding hands. It was quite thrilling. All of the women in the pageant were beautiful, talented, charming, elegant, kind, caring and accomplished.
“It was truly an honor to be standing, hand-in-hand with those amazing women,” she added.
Although pageants aren’t for everyone, Nivens has had mostly positive feedback.
“I have heard a couple of negative comments regarding pageants, but most of the comments have been very positive,” she explained. “One of my friends, after hearing I was going to enter the senior pageant stated that she thought women entered those pageants because they had low self-esteem. I assured her that it was totally the opposite case. These women are confident and feel they still — even after age 60 — have a lot of life to live and lot of gifts to give. They want to share that message with other women.”
With a lifetime of service to area schools and children, Nivens has enjoyed a life filled with challenges and triumphs. Her mission to support and strengthen public education has been a lifelong passion.
Entering the pageant world again at this stage in her life has brought a special joy to her life.
“Participating in the Ms. Senior America Pageant has been a wonderful, exciting and memorable journey for me,” she said. “I have met so many remarkable women and feel that I have made friends for life. This sisterhood is supportive, sincere and lovely. It is a wonderful honor to represent our great state as Ms. North Carolina Senior America. Whenever I wear my crown and sash, I am always greeted with smiles, love, support and respect.”