"Pinky O'Neil," Ms. Virginia Senior America 1996

Biography

Pinky O’Neil of Reston, Virginia, produced & hosted  “Dancing Around with Pinky O’Neil” aired on cable in the Washington DC area for 10 years.  The weekly show featured showcases, information & instruction focusing on Line Dancing & Social Dancing for Fun & Fitness.

An advocate to encourage exercise for Older Adults, Pinky  introduced Competitive Team Line Dancing into Northern Virginia Senior Olympics in 1998 and currently hosts the annual event..  She organizes Line Dance Programs for recreation, community & senior centers, hospitals, health clubs and night clubs in the metro Washington area.

Pinky presents Line Dance Workshops on cruise ships, for conferences and for resorts in the Catskills. In 1999, she was a guest instructor on the Marco Polo Cruise Ship sailing to New Zealand, Tasmania & Australia.  As a dance consultant she has presented Line Dance Seminars in Homer, Alaska; Bisbee, Arizona; Rapid City, South Dakota, Aspen, Colorado and in the Catskills.  She created her “Hi Energy Lo Fat Line Dance Luncheons” to bring attention to combining a healthy diet with exercise.

Selected Ms Virginia Senior America 1996, Pinky visits senior centers and retirement communities around the USA spreading her message of exercise for better health.  Pinky was appointed State Director for the Ms Virginia Senior America Pageant in 1997; she has produced and hosted nine state pageants.   She is Producer/Host for the Cameo Jewels, a traveling entertainment troupe which performed at the White House December, 2000.  Pinky is the National Director of PR & Marketing for MS Senior America.

Pinky O’Neil Dance Productions was a winner in the National 1997 Mature Media Awards Program presented by the Mature Market Resource Center in Libertyville, IL.  The program recognizes the nation’s finest educational, marketing & advertising materials designed and produced for older adults.

Delegate Kenneth Plum of Virginia presented Pinky in 2004 with a House Joint Resolution from the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assemble commending her for  “leadership of the MS. Virginia Senior America Pageant.”  She has received numerous accolades from community centers and senior groups  around the metro Washington area.

Pinky has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health & Physical Education with a major in education from East Stroudsburg University in the Poconos.  She was a public school teacher and has completed post graduate work in communications, public relations and dance.  She serves on the ESU Alumni Board of Directors and has spearheaded "$50,000 for 50 Years" class fundraising project.  A motivational speaker for seminars & conventions, Pinky is a graduate of  Lebanon High School, Lebanon, PA. She has three sons, a step-daughter and seven grandchildren.