Choi Soon-hwa, 81, isn’t spending her eighties in the way one might imagine. Instead of gardening or learning a language, she is challenging beauty pageant standards.
This week, she participated in Miss Universe South Korea against candidates a fourth her age, hoping to advance to the finals in Mexico later this year.
She is the oldest contestant in the pageant, despite the competition’s age limit being recently lifted.
Choi, a former hospital worker, began modeling at the age of 72 when a patient suggested it to her. Despite her advanced age and significant financial hardships that nearly bankrupted her family, Choi pursued modeling and rose to prominence in South Korea’s fashion scene.
Her participation in Miss Universe South Korea was motivated by the pageant’s recent abolition of age limitations, indicating a shift towards inclusivity that now includes married women, transgender individuals, and single mothers.
Her entrance at the pageant wowed the other contenders and the audience, earning her praise for her vitality and flair, which earned her the title of “Best Dressed.”
Although she did not win the crown, which went to 22-year-old Han Ariel, Choi’s participation drew international attention and stirred debates about aging and beauty expectations.
Choi thinks that her involvement will encourage more seniors to question conventional beauty conventions, and she sees the present buzz as a step toward wider acceptance and visibility for older competitors on worldwide platforms.
Despite not making it to the global stage this time, Choi continues to inspire her grandsons and others by embodying a lively energy that defies aging.