Andrea Kehmeier Crowned 30th Ms. Colorado Senior America
Look for Andrea Kehmeier, this year’s reigning Ms. Colorado Senior America, to bring enthusiasm and creativity to her role, plus a desire to call attention to important issues.
Kehmeier, 71, was crowned April 27 at the pageant’s 30th anniversary.
Ms. Colorado Senior American honors women who have reached the “Age of Elegance,” age 69 plus. Contestants compete onstage in the categories of philosophy of life, talent and evening gowns.
For Kehmeier, who retired just over 18 months ago, the pageant was an opportunity to do some good and have some fun.
“I’d finished all my house projects,” she said, and wondered what was next."
Among her goals as queen is to call attention to the issue of obesity.
“There are many misconceptions surrounding obesity,” she said. “I’d like to try to dispel some of those myths.”
It’s hard to imagine Kehmeier having time to wonder “what’s next.” The Conifer resident’s many involvements include Habitat for Humanity and Women in Communication.
Her interest in environmental issues and gardening with native plants and wildflowers, guided her to be involved in the Evergreen Audubon Society and the Colorado Rock Garden Society.
She also volunteers with Conifer Radio, where she is exploring opportunities to produce community-oriented content for live streaming.
Committed to reusing and repurposing clothing and household items, she is an active volunteer with Mountain Resource Center Thrift Store. And she is a volunteer test subject with Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), a national research study conducted at Anschutz, that tracks the impact of exercise on biological molecules over time (minimum 3-month commitment) to advance our understanding of how physical activity improves and preserves health
Kehmeier’s professional life has been equally diverse.
“I’ve cycled between the arts and corporate life, and have had the best of both worlds,” she said.
A member of Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Kehmeier pursued a singing career in classical music. But her skill in research and communication drew her to FMC Corporation and Johnson & Johnson before relocating to Colorado in 2009.
She ended her career as a senior technical writer with AECOM Engineering (URS).
A Pennsylvania native, she earned a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and did graduate work in communications at Temple University.
Kehmeier describes herself as a “joyful transplant” to Colorado. She relocated to Colorado 15 years ago to join her geologist husband Richard, "two intense terriers, and one feisty feline. Colorado affords me endless opportunities to be creative, develop new proficiencies, enjoy novel experiences, and cultivate loving, interesting friends,” she said.
A “staunch AARP member,” Kehmeier said that “being a senior gives a tremendous perspective. For me, it’s been very freeing. Seniors should feel free to realize their dreams, to feel empowered to do things they have been putting off.”
Kehmeier will compete for the Ms. Senior America crown at the national pageant this fall in Atlantic City.
