Choi Soon-hwa is also a model who has appeared in popular fashion magazines.
For more than 70 years, Miss Universe has been an avenue and platform to celebrate women– their beauty, wit, and talent.
Eighty-one-year-old South Korean Choi Soon-hwa was well aware of the purpose of Miss Universe and did not let her age hinder her dreams of being the oldest contestant in the pageant after it lifted its age requirement which was previously between 18 and 28 years old.
But last Monday, September 30, Choi Soon-hwa faced a detour in her pageant journey as she fell short of bagging the Miss Universe Korea crown through the Miss Korea pageant.
Choi Soon-hwa competed against 31 other contestants of younger age brackets.
While she did not win the Miss Universe Korea crown, Choi Soon-hwa proudly bagged the Best Dress Award thanks to her stunning white gown and glowing beauty despite her age.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Soon-hwa said she wants people to have the same courage as hers no matter their age.
“Even at this age, I had the courage to grab onto an opportunity and take on a challenge,” AP quoted Soon-hwa, “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.”
According to reports, Choi Soon-hwa only started her modeling career in her 70s and has been appearing in magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle since then. She also made her runway debut at Seoul Fashion Week when she was 74 proving that age is, indeed, just a number.
Miss Universe 2024 is set to take place on November 16, 2024, in the Arena CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico.
