This 81-year-old South Korean grandma is shaking up the beauty pageant world after she nearly won Miss Universe South Korea.

Choi Soon-hwa was born in 1943, nearly a decade before the Miss Universe pageant even existed.

Choi, a former hospital care worker, started modeling at 74 after she was encouraged by a patient.

She had been practicing her runway walk in hospital hallways and taking weekly classes.

Since then, she has walked at Seoul Fashion Week, been featured in Elle magazine and starred in commercials – including for the popular South Korean beer, Cass.

Choi made history in September as the oldest Miss Universe South Korea contestant at age 81.

Dressed in a shimmering silver gown, Choi came close to entering the final in Mexico but took home the "Best Dresser" award instead

Choi said she wanted to surprise the world and show how an 80-year-old lady can be “so healthy”.

Miss Universe previously had an age limit of 18 to 28, but it changed the rule in 2023 to remove the upper age limit.
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