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Age is just a number and the women that competed in the Ms. New Jersey Senior America pageant June 2 proved this indisputably true. After a three-hour long contest, Gina Desiree Nigrelli, a native of 23rd and Jackson streets, emerged the victor.
“When I first decided to do it I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know why I am doing this!’ Then I was so excited and so into it,” Nigrelli, 68, said. “I really loved being on stage again. To sing, it really is my first and my true love.
“It was exhilarating and exciting. I was fascinated with it and totally into it.”
All contestants had to be older than 60 and the 13 finalists from the area descended on Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., to compete in interview, philosophy of life, evening wear and talent categories.
“My range is very high, but I wanted to do something that was a little easier on me,” Nigrelli said of her talent portion. “Someone came up with ‘Crazy,’ and mentioned it to me. I always loved that song. I really did not know [what I was going to sing] till almost two weeks before.”
But Nigrelli, who had competed in pageants in her youth and spent years singing, pulled everything together in time to belt out Patsy Cline’s classic and wow the crowd.
“I’m very at home on stage,” Nigrelli, who hadn’t sung for nearly 20 years prior to the pageant evening, said.
As the reigning Ms. New Jersey Senior, Nigrelli will have to begin gearing up for the Ms. Senior America competition that takes place in October, also at Harrah’s. Before that, the champion will preside over the Cameo Club, which is comprised of all contestants who competed in the Jersey semifinal. The Cameo Club will be making appearances at senior centers, rehab clinics and veteran centers throughout the year.
“Believe in yourself going forward with a good spirit,” Nigrelli said of her philosophy of life. “Because I’m involved with horses, it was about release the reigns and enjoy the energy of life. I find doing for others really does make you feel better about yourself.
“I always say I have sand in my shoes, music in my soul and hoof prints on my heart.”
Before becoming a graduate of the former St. Maria Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., Nigrelli was singing and performing during the heyday of the South Philly entertaining greats.
“I was 5 years old and my dad was friends with Mario Lanza before he went to L.A. He heard me singing somewhere, in school or something silly, and he mentioned to my father that I had a really powerful voice and he hoped it would stay,” she said.
By age 7, Nigrelli was a regular on channel 10 WCAU “Children’s Hour,” which broadcast from City Line Avenue every Sunday. She also began performing in Atlantic City, and by the time she was plucked to replace Jimmy Rogers when he was sidelined due to an emergency for one evening, she was ready for the spotlight.
“It didn’t start out well. When they heard Jimmy Rogers wasn’t going to be there, they all started booing,” Nigrelli, who had been performing at Atlantic City’s famed Steel Pier with acts such as Tony Bennett, said. “[The owner] said, ‘You have showmanship. You are going to win them over.’ When I was done, I got a standing ovation.”
Though Nigrelli had promising vocals, her father, a teacher, also knew she was a gifted student and kept his young daughter from signing a music deal in order to preserve her education.
“I went to Drexel University and also studied at the University of Pennsylvania. I was in business management, Nigrelli said. “I was really interested in law courses. I would have gone farther, but I was married.”
Forgoing a law degree to start a family in 1976, Nigrelli would later enter the professional workforce and excel.
“I worked for an investment company. We would purchase $2 million to $5 million properties and we would lease them to doctors and lawyers,” Nigrelli said. “My legal background was great. I was a manager, then went to director, then went to CEO.
“There were no other women doing that at that time.”
Eventually, a trip to Colorado would start an infatuation with equestrianism, and Nigrelli and husband Martin, purchased a Pittsgrove, N.J.-based ranch and trained champion horses.
“I raised a baby, her name was Sunday, Golden Sunday,” Nigrelli, who studied dressage and taught at the ranch for 15 years, said. “She was phenomenal, a palomino with electric blue eyes. She won five blue ribbons and became grand champion. She won the Weanling Futurity, you cannot be any older than 6 months old to win that.”
In 2006, the happy, married pair and grandparents of two sold their ranch and moved to an 100-year-old house in Atlantic City, where they spend time renovating the property.
“I was asked to do [the pageant] a few years ago and I actually didn’t have time cause I had the horse ranch,” Nigrelli said. “I love my horses dearly and it was sad to let it go, but I’ve always loved AC. There is so much glitz and glamour here.”
Now back on the scene in Atlantic City, Nigrelli has been approached to record a CD and perform at other venues, all offers which she is considering. But even as she wakes every morning at the Shore, she remembers how she got to where she is today.
“The legend of South Philadelphia was always that is was the capital of talent. There was always talent down there and I would say there most certainly is … South Philadelphia has always been special to me,” she said. “South Philly has a reason to be proud. We really were the capital of talent.” SPR
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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