STRONG and VITAL No 5

Repor tage

Choi Soon-hwa, 81 at Miss Universe Korea The country’s most glamorous grandma

Eighty-one-year-old Choi Soon-hwa was born nearly a decade before the first Miss Universe Korea pageant in 1952. Nevertheless, she made it to the finals of this year’s Miss Universe competition. On September 30, 2024, in Seoul, Choi competed alongside 31 other con testants for the title and the chance to represent South Korea at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico City on November 16. She could go down in history as the oldest contestant ever to participate in the beauty pageant. The senior hopes to inspire others by showing that health and vitality can be maintained well into old age. Wearing a pearl-studded white dress, the silver-haired Choi Soon-hwa proudly walked the stage. She missed out on the crown but took home the award for “Best Dressed.” “I want to show that we can live healthily even as we age,” the beau tiful 81-year-old told CNN in an interview.

Choi took weekly lessons at a modeling academy and practiced her runway walk through the hospital corridors during her shifts. At 74, she debuted at Seoul Fashion Week. Since then, she has appeared in the Korean edi tions of magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and Elle and has starred in ad campaigns. She has always worked hard to constantly improve. That’s quite a leap, consi dering that only a few years ago older models in South Korea weren’t even paid and treated modeling as a hobby. She’s not lacking fans either. The elegant lady receives full support from her children and grandchildren, who cheer her on and say: “Our grandma is so cool, beauti ful, and the best!” Her son is also proud of his mother. Considering that South Korea has more than 10 million people over the age of 65—almost 20 percent of the population—a number projected to rise to 36.7 percent by 2044, it’s easy to see how senior models could tap into a still largely unexplored market. The growing elderly population will find it easier to relate to role models of their own age and appreciate their presence. A taboo has finally been broken..

For decades, the Miss Universe organization had strict age restrictions, limiting participation to women bet ween 18 and 28. But starting in 2024, the age limit was lifted in response to growing calls for modernization. The organizers of Miss Universe Korea announced that age doesn’t matter when it comes to pursuing dreams. A similar example is 60-year-old Alejandra Rodríguez (SV 37), who competed in Miss Universe Argentina but did not make it to the finals in November.

“I just wanted to give it a try. Whether I made it or not, I was determined to seize

this opportunity.” A late career change

The grandmother of three has already made a name for herself in the Korean fashion world. After lea ving retirement in her 50s due to financial difficul ties to work as a hospital caregiver, Choi began modeling at the age of 72 to pay off her debts. One of her patients encouraged Choi to give mode ling a shot. At first, she thought the suggestion was absurd—at her venerable age!—but she eventu ally gave in. Why not give it a try? Years earlier, mode ling had been a dream of hers, and she had truly wis hed to stand on the international stage as a model.

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STRONG and VITAL No. 5