Photographer Page

Alexey Yurynev

Roza Mardukhaeva and Fanya Verets enjoy a short rest as they wait to be called on stage.

Etya Mikhelson, 92, a classical pianist and grandmother to three, receives an honorary crown at this year's contest. She did not compete in the hours-long competition but performed a song that made the entire hall start singing. "At this age I'm still playing and performing. It's a wonderful feeling," she says. Her son traveled from Ukraine to be with his mum for the pageant.

Contestants are tasked with performances that, this year, had them draw inspiration from the music, dances, and iconic artists of their youth.

Grandmother Mara Goldstein's smile is captured in double images in the lobby of the National Restaurant.

The Your Highness Grandmother Master of Ceremonies takes a break from announcing in Russian and English on a balcony overlooking part of the hall. More than 300 supporters came out to cheer on the grandmothers.

Contestants line up for the awards ceremony. All received flowers and awards from local sponsors including travel agencies, two were crowned as "Your Highness Grandmother."

Fanya Veret, an emigre from Moscow, Russia, stays performance-ready. She is a proud grandmother of two.

From left to right: Faina Konusova, Fanya Verets, and Lina Sapelnikova wait backstage to be called up for their performaces.

Polina Vockoboynik and her back up dancers perform a ribbon dance to the song 'I'm alive' by Celine Dion. She has four grandchilden and originally hails from Kazakhstan, where she worked as an English teacher.

Leya Popivker, originally from Ukraine, is carried on stage in a chair, part of her dance performance. According to small biographies, typed in English and handed out at the pageant, Popivker has two grandchildren, loves listening to music, and has a cosmetology license: "Beauty for Leya is in life and the profession," reads the card.