At the age of 80, a fashion model has made history in the beauty industry by being the oldest woman to participate in a beauty contest. Despite her age, she exhibits an ageless beauty that had landed her to be a finalist in the national beauty pageant held earlier this September.
Her participation has created a stir, as her competitors, who are young enough to be her grandchildren, have been given stiff competition. If she can outdo the remaining 31 contestants by September 30 in the national pageant, she will have the golden opportunity of representing her country, South Korea, in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Mexico City on November 16. This will be yet another historic moment as she will be the eldest contestant in the history of this international pageant.
Embracing her age and willing to shatter the stereo-typical image of aging, the octogenarian model is on a mission. She wants to show the world that an 80-year-old can be as fit as a fiddle. Through her journey, she wants to infuse a sense of inspiration in others; with the right care, one can maintain health and vitality even at an older age.
Recent changes in the rules of the Miss Universe Organization have enabled her to partake in this competition. The previously set upper age limit for contestants, which was 28 years, is now lifted. She regards this change as an opportunity for her to give it a shot and show the world what she’s capable of.
Even though this beauty pageant is her first, she took up a modeling career in her 70s and found herself a second calling. Having faced economic hardships post-retirement, she had to go back to work in her late 50s, taking up a job as a hospital carer. One of her patients recognized her potential for modeling, which reignited her latent passion.
Kick-starting her modeling venture at the age of 72, she made her debut in the prominent Seoul Fashion Week at the age of 74 in 2018. This big break led her to feature in leading magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle. She recounts her transition into modeling as a silver lining; it was like a doorway to a new chapter in her life.
As she continues her journey in modeling and this unique competition, she is blessed with the full support of her family. Upon her participation in the beauty pageant, she received encouraging words from her son, who expressed his pride and advised her to enjoy the experience regardless of the outcome. Her three grandchildren are also in awe of their grandmother’s persistence and vitality.
In the upcoming Miss Universe Korea pageant competition in which the swimsuit segment has been removed, she plans to demonstrate her talents through singing while her competitors might exhibit talents ranging from dancing to fashioning a traditional Korean outfit known as the hanbok.
Emphasizing the importance of positivity and maintaining a beautiful exterior, she is fervent about her potential to outperform her competitors thanks to her extensive experience in modeling. With the experience of walking the ramp, she is optimistic about representing her nation on an international stage. The mere anticipation of this possibility excites her, as visiting another country has always been a dream for her, having only visited Japan in the past.
