Born nearly a decade before the first Miss Universe pageant was held, 80-year-old Choi Soon-hwa could now make history as the oldest Miss Universe contestant ever.
Earlier this month, she was unveiled as a finalist in the annual Miss Universe Korea pageant. Choi Soon-hwa will compete with 31 other contestants and have the opportunity to represent South Korea at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico in November.
For decades, the Miss Universe Organization enforced strict age restrictions, limiting participation to women between the ages of 18 and 28. However, from 2024, amid increasing calls for modernization, the upper age limit has been abolished. Last year, the organization also updated its eligibility criteria to remove a long-standing ban on pregnant women or mothers and women who were married or divorced.
Choi Soon-hwa (Euronews culture YouTube Screenshot)
At the pageant, Choi will present herself by singing, while the other finalists will dance or move in traditional Korean costumes.
Choi discovered her passion for modeling while attending classes at the academy, where she practiced walking the hospital corridors during her shifts. For Choi, modeling is not just a hobby, but a way to show that older women can be successful in an industry that often favors youth.
She believes that her modeling experience will contribute to her performance at the Miss pageant, while inspiring us all to follow our dreams regardless of age.
The organizers of Miss Universe Korea emphasize that “age doesn’t matter when it comes to making dreams come true,” and this time they canceled the swimsuit segment as well.
The winner of the miss will be announced based on online voting and jury evaluations.
Source: bizlife.rs
