By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com
Betty Entzminger, the District’s newly crowned Ms. Senior D.C., has experienced several distinctive “it’s never too late” moments. A native of Washington, D.C., the singer, model, actor and entertainer became a teen mother and entered the workforce immediately after graduating from Eastern High School in the 1970’s. She focused on being a good mother and provider for her children.
She raised a family and returned to work. She eventually began to work at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Her drive for college was always there, so eventually she found herself in class. She stayed and excelled until she graduated from UDC with her bachelor’s degree in June of 2018.
For Entzminger, the decision to enter the senior Ms. D.C. pageant was again the right opportunity at the right time in her life, similar to her decision to pursue college later, after focusing on raising her family. This time, her family was the deciding factor, according to Entzminger. The vote of affirmation from her two adult children pushed her over the edge. “They convinced me it was the right time,” she said.
“I decided at the beginning of 2026 – perhaps as a New Year’s resolution – that this would be the year I finally entered the pageant,” she said. Entzminger’s participation in the pageant was a way to honor her mother, a bi-vocational pastor and educator who raised Entzminger and her 9 siblings to be involved in community, church and family.
Entzminger has graced the pages of “Essence,” “Brides for Today” and other national publications. She has also served as a model and acted on stage in area productions including “The Colored Museum” and “For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.” But participating in the Ms. D.C. Pageant was still a step forward in the faith journey for the D.C. artist.
“The Ms. Senior D.C. pageant has really come into its own in the past several years,” said Amanda J Washington, communications specialist with the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living. Nine contestants from all parts of the District competed in this year’s Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant.
“This year’s event was held at the UDC Theatre of the Arts with 500 persons in attendance,” Washington added, demonstrating the pageant’s popularity in recent years. “This really has become a tradition embraced by the city.”
“Ms. Senior D.C. is known all over the city now because the women who are involved do a really good job of immersing the pageant in the community,” Washington added.
Washington D.C. has “crowned” a Ms. Senior D.C. since 1980. Entzminger, like past winners of the D.C. contest, will go to Atlantic City this fall to participate in the Ms. Senior America pageant, a week of activities held October 11-16.
In addition to Ms. Senior D.C., former winners of the city’s senior crown remain involved with the pageant through the Cameo Club. These former queens and contestants support the pageant and help organize almost three months of contestant preparations and rehearsals starting in April each year and ending with the pageant in June.
Entzminger has already started making appearances as the city’s reigning senior queen. She participated in D.C.’s June Pride Festival and participated in several of Mayor Bowser’s scheduled public events, city parades and appearances organized by the Department of Aging and Community Living.
“She will also participate in activities based on the theme she has selected for her reigning year – ‘Encouraging Young Women,’” said Washington.
Entzminger looks both behind her at the “never too late” decisions she has made, and ahead at the excitement the coming year holds during her reign as Ms. Senior D.C. She marvels at how things have worked out for good in her life.
“I am incredibly grateful for how everything has turned out,” she said. “God is good.”
