By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Niva Dorough — wife, mother and grandmother — added a new title to her life on April 28 at Mt Laurel Elementary School — Ms. Senior Shelby County 2012.

Dorough lives in Westover with husband Harry. They have three sons, Luke, Matthew and John Mark, and seven grandchildren.

Dorough is the general manager of Sure Step in Pelham.

Dorough loves meeting new people and tackling new challenges. She saw the pageant as a way to step out of her “comfort zone” and try something new.

A runner-up in Ms. Senior Shelby County 2011, Dorough continued to pursue her dream.

“It is a dream of a lifetime,” she said after winning her title.

The contestants are 60-plus and compete in four phases: private interview, philosophy of life, talent and evening gown. Dorough sang an inspiring patriotic melody as she played a keyboard. The Ms. Senior titles pay homage to women of age and elegance who are recognized for their wisdom, maturity, internal and external beauty.

“I live every day to make a difference,” said Dorough during the philosophy of life phase.

Mary Traylor of Vincent was Ms. Senior Shelby County 2011. After her husband’s death eight years ago, Traylor was looking for a social outlet and a way to be with other seniors. As Ms. Senior Shelby County, she visited seniors in nursing homes and senior centers and participated in Vincent’s fourth of July parade.

Ms. Senior Alabama is a non-profit scholarship program, which gives a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving young woman in the winner’s county. Karen Guice, president of the board of directors, emceed the pageant. Ms. Senior Alabama 2008 Edwina Chappell of Westover was the pageant director assisted by Taylor Bennett.

Dorough’s court includes Rosa Feltman (Vestavia) first runner-up and Pat Pizzitolia (Wilsonville) second runner-up.

Judges for the pageant were Dr. Marvin Copes, Becky Moore and Leigh Harden. Martha Cox was the auditor.

Dorough will compete against nine other preliminary title winners at the Ms. Senior Alabama pageant June 9 at Wallace Community College in Hanceville. Ms. Senior Alabama will then compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant on Oct. 12 in Atlantic City.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by email at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.