On Monday, September 30, in Seoul, South Korea, 81-year-old model Choi Soon-hwa made history by competing in the Miss Universe Korea pageant, becoming the oldest contestant to ever take part in the event.
Dressed in a stunning beaded white gown, Choi strutted across the stage and performed in a singing contest.
Though Choi did not win the title, she took home the “Best Dresser” award- a major achievement in her late-blooming modeling career, which began in her 70s after decades of working in hospital care.
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Even at this age, I had the courage to grab onto an opportunity and take on a challenge. I want people to look at me and realize that you can live healthier and find joy in life when you find things you want to do and challenge yourself to achieve that dream.”
The competition, which was held at a hotel in Seoul, saw 22-year-old Fashion student Han Ariel crowned as the winner.
Han will now go on to represent South Korea in the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City in November.
This year marked the first time Choi could compete, as the Miss Universe organization lifted its previous age restriction, which limited participation to women between 18 and 28.
In addition to removing the age limit, the organizers of the Korean pageant also eliminated requirements related to education, height, and foreign language abilities, as well as the swimsuit competition, to make the event more inclusive.
