It was a hectic weekend for Mrs. Joan Dismont, of Princess Estate, Pembroke West. First she won the coveted crown as Bermuda's Glamorous Granny for 2008, and three days later, on Monday, she celebrated her birthday in grand style.

The icing on the cake her children presented her, spoke volumes: 'Seventy-nine and feeling fine.'

The event was the 11th annual pageant, sponsored by the Seniors Islanders Centre.

Its director, the Rev. Fred Hassell, said the idea behind the effort is to provide a group activity that accentuates the grace and charm of Bermuda's elders.

Participants need not necessarily be a biological grandmother, as several are not, but are keenly interested in the welfare of young children.

This year's Glamorous Granny is a grandmother, having five, in fact.

She's the mother of four, Roy Dismont, Jr., Michell Dismont Frazzoni, the well-known professional photographer in the Government Department of Communications and Information; Sonia Burgess and Kari White.

Joan is a widow; Roy, her husband of 34 years, was a partner in the old Front Street East Dismont & Robinson business.

The six contestants in the pageant were judged on their personality, poise and originality in dress. They strutted their stuff before a panel of judges and audience of several hundred packing the St. Paul's Centennial Hall.

Judges were broadcaster Webster B. Tucker, John Dale and Ruth Thomas.

Joan the Glamorous Granny ordinarily is a most active senior, famously noted for her participation each year since the inception 21 years ago of the fundraising End-to-End Walk from St. George's to the Dockyard in Sandys.

Her other interests include overseas travelling, singing, dancing and playing ping-pong at home. She's a member of Pembroke Community Club, St. James Stage Croup and Seniors Learning Centre. And being a member of Youth Net, she attends West Pembroke School every Thursday to read to children aged five to six. She also volunteers with Meals on Wheels and the National Trust.

She was the first born of ten children. Her mother, Edith Louise Simons, hailed from Somerset Bridge and her father, Everard Smith, was a stalwart in St. John's Pembroke Church.

Joan did not have opportunity to attend secondary school, but at age 70 she completed a two-year child care teaching course with a diploma.

Our photos, courtesy of Michelle Dismont-Frazzoni, show her mother close-up after her crowning; and with other pageant contestants Amanda Broadley (66), Marion Tannock (72), Joan Dismont (72), and Patricia Leonora Dickenson (77) Idena Gonsalves (77). Below Joan receives 'a smacker' from two of her sisters, Pat Quinn and Constance Miller. Above Joan gains the applause of the hundreds packing St. Paul's Centennial Hall. The director of the Seniors Island Centre that initiated the pageant, the Rev. Fred Hassel (top right) praises three of the ladies for their roles in making the 11th annual event one of the best. From the left are Connie Dey, commentator; Kenneisha Simmons and Dorothy Morrissey.