Breaking age barriers in Miss Universe Korea competition

At 80 years old, Choi Soon-hwa stands on the brink of making history as the oldest contestant in the Miss Universe pageant's long legacy.

Born nearly a decade before the inaugural Miss Universe contest in 1952, 80-year-old Choi Soon-hwa is poised to become the oldest participant in the pageant's history. Recently announced as a finalist in the annual Miss Universe Korea competition, she will compete against 31 other contestants for the crown and a chance to represent South Korea at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico this November, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.  

“I want to astonish everyone, like, ‘How is this 80-year-old so healthy? How did she maintain her figure? What’s her diet?’” she said ahead of the event. “As we age, we tend to gain weight… I want to demonstrate that we can live healthily even in our later years.”   For years, the Miss Universe Organization imposed strict age limits, allowing only women aged 18 to 28 to compete. However, starting in 2024, the upper age limit has been removed in response to growing calls for modernization. Additionally, last year, the organization revised its eligibility rules, lifting a long-standing ban on pregnant women, mothers, and those who were married or had been married in the past.

National-level Miss Universe pageants, while not all directly managed by the Miss Universe Organization, had to adapt to the new rules as well. This year, 58-year-old Lorraine Peters participated in Miss Universe Canada, and 60-year-old Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez took part in Miss Universe Argentina, although neither advanced to the finals in November.  

“Now that the age limit has been removed, I thought, ‘I should give it a try,’” Choi remarked, adding, “Regardless of the outcome, I was determined to seize this opportunity.” If Choi wins and progresses to Mexico, she would become the oldest contestant in a national Miss Universe pageant, more than double the age of the next oldest finalist, 40-year-old Beatrice Njoya from Malta, a mother of three.  

The organizers of Miss Universe Korea promoted this year’s competition with the slogan that “age doesn’t matter when it comes to dreaming,” and they eliminated the swimsuit portion of the event. In the upcoming pageant, Choi will participate in a singing contest, while other finalists will showcase dance performances or wear traditional Korean attire known as “hanbok.” The winner will be determined through a scoring system that includes both online voting and judges’ evaluations, which Choi believes emphasize “outer and inner beauty.”  

“Being beautiful outside is important, but you also need to feel at peace within and respect others,” she stated, adding, “Being a positive thinker is crucial; so many people are negative these days.”   Korean pageants have faced criticism in recent years for promoting a narrow standard of beauty, often reinforced by contestants’ use of cosmetic surgery, which is typically not restricted.

However, Choi is unbothered by this trend. “It’s rare to find someone who hasn’t had any enhancements or plastic surgery, and I think it’s time to embrace that,” she said. “Many women, not just Koreans, are undergoing procedures like eyelid surgery or nose lifts. It used to be frowned upon, but that perception has changed.”

By Naila Huseynova