SEOUL — At 80 years old, Ms. Choi Soon-hwa is redefining beauty standards as the oldest finalist at the Miss Universe Korea pageant. Despite her silver hair and visible signs of aging, Ms. Choi has captured the spotlight, becoming a national sensation ahead of the competition on September 30.
If she wins, Ms. Choi will represent South Korea at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16, making her the oldest contestant ever in the international pageant’s history. Her participation follows the recent removal of the pageant’s upper age limit, which was previously set at 28.
Challenging stereotypes about aging, Ms. Choi shared her motivation: “I want to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy?’” She hopes her journey will inspire others to maintain health and vitality well into their later years.
Having started her modeling career at 72, Ms. Choi made her debut at Seoul Fashion Week at the age of 74, appearing in major fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle. Her family, including her three grandchildren, has been highly supportive of her journey, with her son expressing pride in her achievements.
In the 2024 Miss Universe Korea pageant, which has removed the swimsuit segment, Ms. Choi will sing a song as her talent, competing against 31 other finalists showcasing various talents such as dancing and traditional hanbok walks.
Reflecting on her journey, Ms. Choi emphasized the importance of inner beauty: “Looking beautiful on the outside is important, but… you need to be a positive thinker.” Now on the verge of possibly representing South Korea on the international stage, Ms. Choi is ready for her next chapter: “I always dreamed of going on stage abroad… I’m ready!”