An 80-year-old model from South Korea, Choi Soon-hwa, made headlines by participating in the selection competition for Miss Universe Korea and making it to the final round, becoming the oldest contestant in the history of the Miss Universe pageant. Unfortunately, she did not clinch the crown in the final round, missing the chance to represent South Korea in the global Miss Universe pageant set to take place in Mexico in November.
Born in 1943, Choi Soon-hwa had previously worked as a nurse. Her husband abandoned her and their two children, forcing her to take on the role of a single mother and endure challenging days. After retiring, she had to return to work as a caregiver due to financial difficulties.
In 2014, at the suggestion of a patient, Choi embarked on a modeling career and underwent training at a modeling school. Several years later, at the age of 75, she made her debut at Seoul Fashion Week and subsequently appeared in magazines like ELLE, becoming a well-known model for various brands.
With years of experience in the fashion industry, Choi Soon-hwa decided to participate in the Miss Universe Korea selection competition at the age of 80. Speaking to CNN, she expressed her desire to “shock the world.” People who see her would wonder, “How can an 80-year-old woman maintain such good health? What are her secrets to staying in shape? What are her dietary habits?”
Choi Soon-hwa learned earlier in September that she had qualified for the final round of the selection competition held on the 30th, where she would compete for the crown with 31 other contestants. Shortly before the final round, she told the Associated Press, “Even at this age, I have the courage to seize opportunities and face challenges.”
She said, “I hope people see me and understand that when you find something you love to do and challenge yourself to pursue your dreams, you can live a healthier life and find joy in living.”
While she was defeated in the final round by 22-year-old student Han Ariel studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Choi also received the Best Costume award.
The Miss Universe beauty pageant was established in 1952 and is one of the world’s largest beauty contests. The Miss Universe Organization announced in September 2023 that starting from 2024, women aged 18 and above could participate, with the previous age limit of 28 being removed. The long-standing prohibitions on pregnant women, mothers, and married women participating have also been lifted.
The organizers of Miss Universe Korea have also scrapped the swimsuit competition and qualifications related to education, height, and foreign language proficiency to make the competition more inclusive for women.
Previously, after the Miss Universe Organization lifted the age limit for contestants, 60-year-old Argentine lawyer Alejandra Rodríguez also joined the competition, winning the regional crown but falling short of becoming Miss Universe Argentina in the final held in May.
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