Texas beauty queen Marissa Teijo, 71, makes history as oldest ever Miss USA contestant
A Texas beauty queen has made history as the oldest-ever contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant.
Marissa Teijo, a 71-year-old from El Paso, will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition.
Teijo will compete against almost 100 competitors this weekend. If she wins, she will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition in August.
This is because the beauty pageant has lifted certain restrictions in an effort to make the organization more inclusive. Now participants can be older, married, pregnant or divorced.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this incredible new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant,” Teijo recently wrote on Instagram, accompanied by a professional headshot.
Marissa Teijo (center), a 71-year-old from El Paso, will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition
She has made history as the oldest participant ever in the Miss Texas USA pageant
“By doing this, I hope to inspire women to strive to be their best physical and mental selves and to believe that beauty exists at any age,” she continued.
Supporters rallied to her comments, pledging their continued support for the inspiring beauty queen.
‘Delicious!! you have my vote!, one user commented.
‘Very proud of you! Wonderful, kind and sweet lady, I wish you the best!’ another wrote.
Miss USA’s site lists 114 votes under her name.
The competition began its two-day run Friday at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel.
Teijo will compete against almost 100 competitors this weekend
This is because the beauty pageant has lifted certain restrictions in an effort to make the organization more inclusive. Now participants can be older, married, pregnant or divorced
If she wins, she will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition in August
The Miss USA site lists 114 votes under her name
Supporters rallied to her comments, pledging their continued support for the inspiring beauty queen
In April one The 60-year-old Argentine lawyer hoped to make history by becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant.
Alejandra Rodriguez proved that age is really just a number after she was crowned Miss Buenos Aires in early April.
The original rules for the Miss Universe pageant meant that only women who were childless, unmarried and aged between 18 and 28 could take part – but that all changed from September last year.
Texan R’Bonney Gabriel was the oldest competitor to win the international title in 2022 at the age of 28.
But when the rules changed in 2023 so that women up to the age of 73 could also participate, Alejandra seized her chance.
In April, Alejandra Rodriguez hoped to make history by becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant
The 60-year-old proved age is really just a number after she was crowned Miss Buenos Aires earlier this month
The fearless legal consultant, who works in a hospital, told Hola!: ‘I am excited to represent this new paradigm in beauty pageants because we are ushering in a new phase where women are not just physical beauty, but also a different set of values. .
‘I am the first of this generation to start this.’
She credits her lifestyle for helping her maintain her ever-youthful appearance.
“The most important thing is to live healthy, eat right and exercise,” she told the outlet. ‘Normal care, nothing special and a bit of genetics.’
About her diet, Alejandra said: ‘What I try to do is intermittent fasting – I think that helps a lot.
‘Then I try to eat organically, lots of fruit, lots of vegetables and use good creams.’