Miss South Mature — seasoned and spirited

Sherley Harrington-Fraser is a vibrant 44-year-old woman. She has been married for 11 years and has one son, her “prince”, Lendel who is ten years old.

She has worked as a legal assistant with Girwar & Deonarine, a law firm in San Fernando, for the last 24 years and attends the University of the West Indies where she is soon to earn a certificate in social work.

Sherley may sound like the average working mother but those who know her would disagree. Not only was she the 2005 - 2006 Miss South Mature Queen, but she expertly balances her many social responsibilities with her family life.

She decided to enter the Miss South Mature Pageant when she saw an advertisement in one of the daily newspapers. She believed it would be exciting and challenging so she jumped at the opportunity to become a delegate.

What really surprised and encouraged her was the fact that mature women could enter this pageant and feel young and beautiful.

“The experience was all very new and positive. We even learned about posture, posing, and how to carry ourselves. Deron Attzs and his team helped us to recognise our worth. The pageant helped us to build our self-confidence. It was amazing to me that we could all feel and look sexy no matter the size.”

Being crowned queen was also a “great experience” for Sherley. She felt the many different appearances gave her opportunities to try new things and meet new people. She also modelled in many fashion shows.

“I felt so adventurous!” she exclaimed. “Most women believe when they reach a particular age certain things are not for them. Who would have thought I would have been modelling at this stage of my life. Now, I have a new strut. It didn’t matter what size I was — I looked good and people noticed and complimented me. So I said to myself, ‘If I can do this, well I can do anything.’ The experience of reigning really reconditioned my thinking.”

During her reign Sherley gained a more positive view of herself. She said the process made her evaluate herself and progress as a person. She is now able to deal with situations on a more mature level — she breaks it down, rationalises and realises there are other alternatives.

“Now I treat people differently too and I believe I have made a positive impact on other women and the community as a whole,” she said.

She hopes to incite women to rise to a higher level. “As women we have scope, more than just the scrubbing brush and housework. You can be so much more and everything else.”

Sherley loves being involved with community work and development and being Miss South Mature allowed her to do even more in a bigger way. She encourages youths to become more involved in their community as there is much to be done.

Sherley is a drama tutor with the Committee of Community Development under the Best Village programme. She is also the assistant secretary on the Quarry Village Council where she lives and works. She is also an actress with the San Fernando Theatre Workshop under the direction of James Lee Wah. There’s still more on her plate — add a licensed Justice of the Peace, a Red Cross Commandant, a member of the Quarry Village Choir, and back-up singer with the “Escina de la Musica” parang group, a Miss City of San Fernando talent judge, the Mr San Fernando chief judge, and coordinator of the Miss South Mature TnT Fitness Aerobics.

She said all her ventures keep her energetic — even more so than when she was 30 years old.

She thanks her husband, Farley Fraser, for being so supportive of all her activities along with her best friend Gail Joseph-Boysie and her niece Rhonda Harrington. Miss South Mature 2005-2006 attributes her fulfilling and happy life to the grace of God, exercise, and support from her friends and family.

Screening has already begun for this year’s Miss South Mature Pageant which carries the theme “D Diva Enhanced”. The pageant will take place at the end of May and all participants will be within the 27 to 55 age range. The delegates will have their official launch on Thursday.