80-Year-Old Choi Kin Participated In Miss Universe Some will garden, some will learn languages, some will go on a trip and some will spend time with children. Hardly anyone at this age would enter an international beauty pageant to start a modelling career.
But for Choi Sun Hwa, it was a no-brainer. This week, 81-year-old Choi took to the ramp with hopes of winning the Miss Universe title alongside women nearly thirteen years her junior and advancing to next year’s finals in Mexico.
The question arises, why?
“After raising a child and going through the hardships, now you need to find what you want to do,” the former hospital worker told the BBC as she left the stage.
“Once you achieve this, it energizes your life. It advances your life. Which provides a positive outlook and healthy relationship with people. It also benefits you,” she said.
She embraced modelling after a patient in the hospital suggested modelling even at the age of 72. In recent years, she has become a familiar face in South Korea. She has also walked the runway of Fashion Week. But it is difficult for him to start a career outside the country.
When the Miss Universe beauty pageant, which started nine years after Choi’s birth, removed the rule that people over the age of 28 could not participate, Choi decided to participate. With this, she became the oldest contestant ever.
The decision to allow married women, transgender women and single mothers to participate has seen the Miss Universe pageant move towards more diversity in recent years. But his entry caused quite a stir.
The participants were surprised to see me. When they found out I was 80 years old, they complimented me and said, ‘I want to be old like you,’” she admitted.
It has brought him international attention as expected. Choi has earned media headlines around the world.
“Just being able to participate is an amazing and humbling experience,” she says, hoping to be the first of many older women to compete for the crown and challenge beauty standards.
There is a lot of discussion because it is still new. But as more older women start participating, the attitude towards them will change and there will come a time when they can compete in world competitions,’ she says, ‘but for now, there is still time for young people to take the stage.’
Whatever happens next, he knows some of his biggest fans will always be at home in the form of his 23- and 24-year-old grandsons.
“My grandchildren encourage me by saying – ‘Our grandmother is very good, beautiful, beautiful and excellent!'” she recounts.
