Choi Soon-hwa, 81, defied age norms and became a symbol of empowerment after becoming the “Oldest Miss Universe National Contestant.”⁠ ⁠ Choi shared she wanted to “stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy? How did she maintain that body? What’s your diet?’ So, I want to show that we can live healthily even when we get old.”⁠ ⁠ Miss Universe lifted its age restriction this year, opening the door for greater diversity and representation. A former hospital care worker, Choi began her modeling career in her 70s. She was among 32 contestants in a reimagined competition that eliminated the swimsuit segment and removed various eligibility criteria related to education and physical attributes.⁠ ⁠ Born in Masan, a city in South Gyeongsang province under Japanese rule in 1943, Choi worked as a nurse and a Christian pastor before retiring at 68. Choi recalled her modeling journey beginning in 2014 when another pastor she was caring for asked, “Why don’t you become a model?” Th...