Ms. Choi’s involvement followed the Miss Universe Organization’s efforts to push for a format modification.
The oldest competitor in the Most Universe Korea pageant is a model from South Korea who is eighty years old. In addition to being among the competitors who are many years younger than her, Choi Soon-hwa, a participant with white hair and a youthful demeanor, also wants to demonstrate that age is just a number.
Ms. Choi, who was born in 1943—nine years before the inaugural Miss Universe pageant took place in 1952—has the opportunity to create history by becoming the first Miss Korea and, consequently, Miss Universe of South Korea should she win and go on to represent her nation in the final, which will take place in Mexico in November of this year. She stands a chance to go up against 31 other women for the crown on Monday.
“I want to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy?'” said Miss Choi in an interview with CNN. How did she maintain that body? How do you eat?
Ms. Choi’s participation occurred following the Miss Universe Organization, which has tried to campaign for a change in format according to popular demand, allowing contestants’ maximum age restriction to be raised from 28. “I thought I should give it a try now that the age restriction is gone,” she added.
Ms. Choi entered the pageantry shortly after having a prosperous modeling career and again later on. Having struggled financially as a young girl, she started working as a hospital caretaker at the age of 50, and at 72, she began modeling. She arrived to Seoul Fashion Week at the age of 74 and began by posing for the catwalk. Since then, she has been in South Korean advertisements as well as on the covers of Harper’s Bazaar and Elle. “Becoming a model was like opening a door to a new path for me,” the woman said.
Monday’s Miss Universe Korea event is expected to include a few theatrical acts, and Ms. Choi intends to participate in a singing competition. As a result, votes for the online competition as well as internal and exterior physical beauty will be taken into account during the annual event.Choi Soon-hwa will become the oldest competitor in the history of the international Miss Universe pageant if she wins.
