Two Chesterfield women swept the top honors at the Ms. Missouri Senior America 2026 Pageant in Florissant.

Laura Ritchie won the statewide crown, and fellow Chesterfield resident Gina Bufe was named both first runner-up and Ms. Congeniality.

Ritchie, who started dancing at age five, tap-danced her way to the title with a medley of "Get Ready" and "Dancing in the Street." Her performance background includes the Muny, Stages St. Louis, and the Cardinals and Soccer Stars Dance Teams.

Off the stage, Ritchie earned her bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in healthcare at Webster University. She has two children and two grandsons in Los Angeles.

Her personal motto: "Do one thing every day that makes you happy."

As Ms. Missouri Senior America 2026, Ritchie will represent the state at the national Ms. Senior America Pageant, scheduled for October 11–16 at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City.

Mary Veda Moorehead of St. Louis rounded out the top three as second runner-up. Six other women competed: Sonja Dugan, Vicky Horton, Leslie Reynolds Fowler, Marilyn Tyson, Jo Vertrees, and Sandra Olmstead.