In a world where young contestants often dominate beauty pageants, Choi Soon-Hwa has exceeded expectations and is making history.
The 80-year-old South Korean model is making waves by becoming one of the most unconventional finalists of the Miss Universe Korea pageant.
Despite her wrinkled skin, silver hair and crow's feet, the timeless beauty was selected as a finalist in the 2024 national pageant. This turned out to be intense competition for her much younger rivals, who could pass for her grandchildren.
Willing to challenge stereotypes about age and beauty, Ms. Choi, who is also a grandmother, is determined to inspire others and redefine the perception of aging, proving that age should never limit anyone from pursuing their dreams. dreams.
Let's say you beat the other 31 finalists on September 30 in the national round. In that case, she will be able to represent South Korea at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16, competing against contestants from around the world. This could make her the oldest contestant in the history of international pageants.
Mrs. Choi, born October 11, 1943, is no stranger to challenges. She was born almost a decade before the first Miss Universe pageant in 1952, and her journey has been far from traditional. She was divorced when she was 40 and has two children and three grandchildren.
After retiring from her previous career and facing financial difficulties when she was 50, she worked as a caregiver in a hospital. During this time, a patient inspired her to follow her long-held dream of becoming a model, which she had initially dismissed as unreasonable.
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However, the octogenarian took that encouragement seriously and decided to give it a try. At age 72, she began her career as a model, debuting at Seoul Fashion Week at age 74 in 2018.
Since then, she has been featured in major publications such as Harper's Bazaar and Elle and has appeared in several commercials for brands, including Cass Beer.
Breaking limits
The Miss Universe Organization has traditionally imposed a strict age limit for participants, allowing only women between 18 and 28 years old.
However, in 2024, the organization updated its eligibility criteria, removing the upper age limit and other restrictions, such as long-standing bans on married women, pregnant women, and mothers. Ms. Choi decided to take this opportunity to make history and challenge societal perceptions about aging.
In a recent interview with CNN, the octogenarian said: “Now that the age restriction has been lifted, I said, 'I should try it.' Competition is more than just a tiara or a title; It is about breaking barriers and demonstrating that health, vitality and beauty can be achieved well into old age. I want to shock the world and say, 'How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy?' How did you maintain that body? What is your diet? “I don't compete to win, but to set an example that one can live a healthy and vibrant life at any age.”
Choi, 80, also told the Washington Times that many older people often limit their potential for improvement. Despite her strong spirit, she is not an exercise fanatic; He stays in shape by stretching daily and walking 40 minutes three times a week.
For her skin, the octogenarian follows a basic skincare routine, which goes against South Korea's beauty obsession. Their diet includes mainly Korean vegetarian dishes, some fish and chicken, and a special garlic seasoning at every meal.
Despite years of criticism at Korean pageants for promoting a narrow beauty standard, the aging model told CNN: “It's hard to find someone who hasn't had body enhancements, and it's time we accept that. Many women around the world are undergoing plastic surgery and it is no longer frowned upon.”
She will perform a song at the next Korean contest (Monday), just 11 days before her 81st birthday. At the same time, other contestants will showcase various talents, including dance and walking routines in traditional Korean hanbok.
Interestingly, this year's competition eliminated the swimsuit segment, which has long been a controversial aspect of beauty pageants.
In 2024, the winner of Miss Universe Korea will be decided using a scoring system that considers online voting and judges' ratings.
For Choi, her modeling experience, which included dominating the catwalk, is expected to give her an edge in the competition.
More than twice the age of the next oldest finalist, 40-year-old Beatrice Njoya, who was crowned Miss Malta 2024, Ms Choi's participation would be unprecedented. Similarly, Lorraine Peters, 58, competed in Miss Universe Canada, and Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez, 60, participated in Miss Universe Argentina, although neither advanced to the final in November 2024.
dream support
Throughout her journey, Ms. Choi says she has the full support of her family. “My son said he's proud of me and he'll enjoy it no matter the outcome,” the 80-year-old model shared with CNN. Her grandchildren have also expressed their admiration, often commenting, “My grandmother is amazing!”
The octogenarian hopes her journey inspires others to pursue their passions, regardless of age, and is excited by the prospect of representing her country on an international stage. “I always dreamed of going on stage abroad… I'm ready!” she told CNN, eager to embark on this new adventure. Japan is the only country she has visited so far, and the chance to represent South Korea on a global platform would be a monumental achievement for her.
At the national finals, which will be held on Monday, Choi will compete with 31 other finalists for the crown of Miss Universe Korea 2024. Whether she wins the national crown or not, her journey has already inspired many and we can all learn from her spirit of resilience and passion.
At 80 years old, Choi isn't just competing in a beauty pageant: she's redefining what beauty can mean, proving that it's never too late to pursue your dreams and wow the world.