80-year-old woman enters final round of Miss Universe Korea

On September 30, she competed against 31 other contestants in the hope of winning the beauty crown of the land of kimchi. The winner will have the opportunity to represent Korea at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico in November.

"I want to shock the world and prove that anyone can pursue their passion," Choi said.

For decades, beauty pageants in Korea have restricted the age of participation from 18 to 28. In 2024, the age limit will be lifted, allowing even pregnant women, mothers, married women, or divorced women to participate.

Breaking the standards for women in beauty pageants made Ms. Choi decide to participate. However, this older contestant did not expect to win the title.

At 80, Choi is the oldest contestant ever to compete in Miss Universe Korea. If she competes in Mexico, she will surpass Beatrice Njoya, 40, of Malta - currently the oldest contestant in the Miss Universe world.

In a statement, the organizers of the Miss Universe Korea pageant affirmed that "age does not matter when it comes to dreams".

On the night of September 30, Ms. Choi showed off her singing ability. Other contestants could dance or catwalk in traditional Korean costumes, hanbok. The swimsuit competition, which often appeared in previous years, was also eliminated.

The winner of the competition is decided through a system of online voting and judging by a panel of judges.

"Beauty comes from the outside and the inside. You will be more beautiful if you keep positive thoughts and know how to respect others," said Ms. Choi.

The September 30 contest marked Choi’s first appearance in a beauty pageant. She was already well-known in the Korean fashion world.

After retiring at the age of 50, Ms. Choi worked as a hospital nurse. At the age of 72, the woman tried her hand at modeling to relieve financial pressure. She started attending weekly classes at a modeling academy. Every day, she practiced catwalking in the hospital corridors in her spare time.

At the age of 74, she signed a contract with a modeling agency in Seoul and often appeared in famous magazines or as a representative for major brands.

For Ms. Choi, becoming a model has given her a new life. The 80-year-old woman believes that her 6 years of experience as a model will help her in this beauty contest.

Her decision to enter the beauty contest was supported by her family.

"My children and grandchildren feel proud and say congratulations no matter what the results of the contest are," said Ms. Choi.

With a plummeting birthrate, South Korea is one of the fastest aging countries in the world. Earlier this year, the number of people over 65 surpassed 10 million for the first time, accounting for nearly 20% of the population. That figure is expected to rise to nearly 37% — higher than any other country — by 2044, according to South Korean government forecasts.