80-year-old age-defying Korean model falls short of becoming oldest Miss Universe contestant
An 80-year-old South Korean model, Choi Soon-hwa, who aimed to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant, came close to realising her dream but narrowly missed out.
On Monday, September 30, Choi lost her chance to represent South Korea at this year’s Miss Universe pageant. Instead, the top honour went to 22-year-old fashion school student Han Ariel.
"Even at this age, I had the courage to grab onto an opportunity and take on a challenge," Choi told The Associated Press hours before the pageant.
Though she missed the ultimate crown, Choi did not leave empty-handed. She was awarded the "Best Dresser" prize, a nod to her unique style and grace on the stage.
Choi Soon-hwa's modelling journey began at the age of 72, following a career as a hospital carer. She made her runway debut at the Seoul Fashion Week in 2018, at 74 years old.
Earlier in September, she was announced as one of the 32 finalists for the Miss Universe Korea pageant, drawing global attention due to her age-defying aspirations.
Had Choi made it to the Miss Universe stage, she would have set a record as the oldest contestant ever, having been born nearly a decade before the first Miss Universe contest in 1952.
As it stands, the oldest confirmed contestant for the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, scheduled for November in Mexico City, is Beatrice Njoya, a 40-year-old representative from Malta.
