Meet Choi Soon-Hwa, 80-year-old Miss Universe Korea finalist

In a world the place younger contestants sometimes dominate magnificence pageants, Choi Quickly-Hwa has shattered expectations and is making historical past.

The 80-year-old South Korean mannequin is making waves as she turns into one of the unconventional finalists within the Miss Universe Korea pageant.

However her wrinkled pores and skin, silver hair, and crow’s toes, the timeless magnificence was chosen as a finalist within the 2024 nationwide pageant. This proved to be intense competitors for her a lot youthful rivals, who might go for her grandchildren.

Set to problem stereotypes about age and wonder, Ms Choi, who doubles as a grandmother, is set to encourage others and redefine the notion of ageing, exhibiting that age ought to by no means restrict anybody from pursuing their goals.

Suppose she beats the opposite 31 finalists on 30 September on the Nationwide spherical. In that case, she’s going to be capable of symbolize South Korea on the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico Metropolis on 16 November, competing towards contestants from throughout the globe. This might make her the oldest contestant within the historical past of worldwide pageants.

Ms Choi, born on 11 October 1943, isn’t any stranger to challenges. She was born virtually a decade earlier than the primary Miss Universe contest in 1952, and her journey has been removed from conventional. She divorced in her 40s and has two youngsters and three grandchildren.

After retiring from her earlier profession and dealing with monetary difficulties in her 50s, she labored as a hospital carer. Throughout this time, a affected person impressed her to comply with her previous dream of turning into a mannequin, which she had initially dismissed as unreasonable.

However, the octogenarian took that encouragement significantly and determined to attempt it. At 72, she started her modelling profession, debuting at Seoul Vogue Week at 74 in 2018.

Since then, she has appeared in main publications like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle and has been featured in varied model commercials, together with Cass Beer.

Breaking boundaries

The Miss Universe Organisation has historically enforced a strict age restrict for contributors, permitting solely girls aged 18 to twenty-eight.

Nevertheless, in 2024, the organisation up to date its eligibility standards, lifting the higher age restrict and different restrictions, such because the long-standing bans on married girls, pregnant girls, and moms. Ms Choi determined to take this chance to make historical past and problem social perceptions about getting older.

In a current interview with CNN, the octogenarian stated, “Now that the age restriction has been lifted, I stated, ‘I ought to give it a attempt.’ The competitors is greater than only a tiara or a title; it’s about breaking boundaries and demonstrating that well being, vitality, and wonder are achievable effectively into previous age. I need to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old woman so wholesome? How did she keep that physique? What’s your weight-reduction plan?’ I’m not competing to win however to set an instance that one can reside a wholesome and vibrant life at any age.”

80-year-old Choi additionally informed the Washington Occasions that many older folks usually restrict their potential for enchancment. Regardless of her robust spirit, she isn’t a exercise fanatic; she stays match by stretching each day and strolling for 40 minutes 3 times per week.

For her pores and skin, the octogenarian sticks to a primary skincare routine, which matches towards South Korea’s magnificence obsession. Her weight-reduction plan primarily consists of Korean vegetarian dishes, some fish and rooster, and a particular garlic condiment at each meal.

Regardless of years of Korean pageant criticism for selling a slender magnificence commonplace, the aged mannequin informed CNN, “It’s exhausting to seek out anybody who hasn’t had physique enhancements, and it’s time we embrace it. Many ladies worldwide are having cosmetic surgery, and it’s not frowned upon.”

She’s going to carry out a track within the upcoming (Monday) Korean pageant, simply 11 days earlier than her 81st birthday. On the similar time, different contestants are set to showcase varied abilities, together with dance routines and walks in conventional Korean hanbok.

Apparently, this yr’s competitors has eliminated the swimsuit section, which has lengthy been a controversial side of magnificence pageants.

In 2024, Miss Universe Korea’s winner will likely be determined by a scoring system that considers on-line voting and judges’ assessments.

For Choi, her expertise as a mannequin, which included mastering the runway stroll, is anticipated to provide her an edge within the competitors.

At over twice the age of the subsequent oldest finalist, Beatrice Njoya, who’s 40 and was topped Miss Malta 2024, Ms Choi’s participation can be really unprecedented. Equally, 58-year-old Lorraine Peters competed in Miss Universe Canada, and 60-year-old Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez participated in Miss Universe Argentina, although neither superior to the ultimate for November 2024.

Dream help

All through her journey, Ms Choi says she has her household’s full help. “My son stated he’s pleased with me and to get pleasure from it whatever the consequence,” the 80-year-old mannequin shared with CNN. Her grandchildren, too, have expressed admiration, usually remarking, “My granny is superb!”.

The octogenarian hopes that her journey will encourage others to pursue their passions, no matter age, and she or he is worked up concerning the prospect of representing her nation on a global stage. “I all the time dreamed of occurring stage overseas… I’m prepared!” she informed CNN, wanting to tackle this new journey. Japan is the one different nation she has visited thus far, and the potential of representing South Korea on a world platform can be a monumental achievement for her.

The nationwide finals, to be held on Monday, will see Ms Choi compete with 31 different finalists for the Miss Universe Korea 2024 crown. Whether or not or not she wins the nationwide crown, her journey has already impressed many, and we are able to all study from her spirit of resilience and fervour.

At 80 years previous, Choi is not only competing in a magnificence pageant—she is redefining what magnificence can imply, proving that it’s by no means too late to pursue your goals and stun the world.