“My mother had a great sense of humor. I loved her very much; she was my closest friend,” said Chernina. “I would really like it if everyone felt about their mothers the same way.”
The show seemed to make Chernina’s wish come true. The restaurant was filled with vibrant families, supporting and cheering on their brave grandmothers as they took center stage to prove that they were capable of doing the same things as someone half their age, and then some.
While some women designed and modeled their own clothes, others showed their flexibility through yoga performances. Many displayed their singing and dancing talents- from singing in Ukrainian and Yiddish to improvised modern dancing, and even writing individual lyrics for songs. The stage was filled with energy.
Maybe a little too much energy. One of the contestants, “Kim Brook,” added a little spice to the event by cross-dressing as a grandmother and performing in all the contests. Her, or should we say his, gutsy participation landed him the Young Spirit Award.
As for the other contestants, their creativity didn’t fall behind. During the talent competition, contestant Leya Popivker, a cosmetologist and hair stylist, dressed as the Statue of Liberty and proudly sang “God Bless America.”
“I got the idea for my costume of the Statue of Liberty last year from Raisa Chernina,” said Popivker. “I couldn’t participate in the pageant last year, but this year I decided to bring the idea to life.”
Similarly, contestant Tatiana Coogan, a 63-year-old grandmother who runs nearly a mile a day, showed off her ballroom dancing skills with the help of a youthful partner. She not only put on a great performance, she also choreographed the dance just days before the event.
“My partner in the show is a dance teacher in Brooklyn,” said Coogan. “We made up the dance four days before the show.”
Although all the contestants had stunning performances, one particular grandmother stole the show. Shifra Blinova, a World War II veteran, amazed the crowd when she came out dressed in a military suit with dozens of medals pinned to her outfit. Blinova not only landed a standing ovation, she also won the Heritage Award.
Despite the pressure of competition and preparation, the contestants all seemed to love the event.
“I have participated in the show three times,” said Nina Sorotskaya, a Ukrainian immigrant who came to the U.S. nine years ago. “It gives us a break from old age, sickness, and various problems. I do this with a passion.”
And that passion, of the contestants and their families, is exactly why Chernina stages the event every year. At the beginning of the show, she thanked all the family members for supporting their grandmothers, and for being there to share the experience, because it’s the participation of the families that Chernina considers the most essential part of the event -- and of one’s life.
“It’s better to come home and kiss your mother or grandmother,” said Chernina, “than to come to her grave and ask for forgiveness.”
There are no losers in the “Your Highness Grandmother” event. All grandmothers won an award. Below are the names of the participants and their awards.
Grandmother Category
Tatiana Coogan – Your Highness Grandmother 2009 Award
Anna Malkina-Shumaeva – People’s Choice Award
Nina Sorotskaya – Heritage Award
Bella Deleu-Bard – Family Award
Ludmila Bokova – Best Creativity Award
Ada Bezukladnikova – Charming Award
Leya Popivker – Best Talent Award
Revekka Portman – Lifetime Achievement Award
Queen Grandmother Category
Rosa Mordukhaeva – Your Highness Grandmother 2009 Award
Rita Reznikova – People’s Choice Award
Shifra Blinova – Heritage Award
Galina Zelman – Family Award
Irina Reznikova – Best Creativity Award
Rozaliya Fiks – Charming Award
Galina Sarni – Best Talent Award
Kim Brook – Young Spirit Award
For information on upcoming events, visit www.beproudfoundation.org.
