Marissa Teijo, 71, made history last weekend as the oldest contestant to participate in the Miss Texas competition.
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This became possible after the Miss Universe organization changed some rules to be more inclusive, removing age limits for contestants vying for the crown this year. Participants can now also be married, pregnant, or divorced.
Despite not winning, Teijo said she wants to inspire other women to break barriers in their fields of interest, regardless of age. “I feel that all women now have a new stage of opportunity, strength, and beauty,” she said in an email to USA Today.
Aarieanna Ware, last year’s Miss Dallas winner, was crowned Miss Texas last Saturday (22). She will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition in Hollywood, California, on August 4, and the Miss USA winner will represent the nation in the Miss Universe competition.
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