80-year-old model could become oldest-ever Miss Universe contestant, who's she
Choi Soon-hwa, an 80-year-old model from South Korea, will make history as the oldest ever participant in the Miss Universe competition if she beats the 31 other Miss Universe Korea finalists on Monday. If she wins, she will represent South Korea at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16, becoming the international competition's oldest candidate in history.
Choi's aspiration to inspire healthy aging
Born nearly a decade ago in 1952, Choi is a fashion model who wants to inspire others with her health and vitality. "I want to stun the world, like, 'How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy? How did she maintain that body? What's your diet?' When you get old, you gain weight... So, I want to show that we can live healthily even when we get old," she told CNN.
Miss Universe lifts age restrictions, modernizes competition
The Miss Universe Organization has always had a pretty strict age policy, only letting women aged 18 to 28 compete. But starting 2024, they're throwing the age limit out the window! Last year, the organization had also made some big changes to eligibility rules, like scrapping the bans on pregnant women, moms, and those who were or had ever been married.
Choi's journey from hospital carer to fashion model
Hoping to be part of the change is Choi, with her silver hair, loose skin and crow's feet. She started working as a hospital carer in her 50s due to financial difficulties after retirement. At 72, she began modeling to pay off debts. "One of my patients told me to try modeling," recalled Choi, adding, "I thought it was nonsense... but at the same time, it awoke my old dream of becoming a model."
Choi's success in the Korean fashion industry
Choi took weekly classes at a modeling academy and practiced her runway walks during her hospital shifts. She signed with her teacher's agency in 2017 and made her Seoul Fashion Week debut at 74. Since then, she has appeared in Korean editions of Harper's Bazaar and Elle, as well as commercial campaigns for brands like Cass Beer. "Becoming a model was like opening a door to a new path for me," she said.
