She’s a timeless beauty.
A 71-year-old Texas beauty queen proved that age is just a number after becoming the oldest woman to ever compete in the Miss Texas USA competition.
“‘I am delighted to be a part of this incredible new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant,” the age-defying contestant Marissa Teijo wrote on her Instagram page.
The El Paso resident will compete against nearly 100 other women at the pageant this weekend in Houston, the El Paso Times reported.
If Teijo wins this prelim, she will go on to represent the Lone Star state in the Miss USA pageant in Los Angeles on August 4.
This comes after the Miss Universe Organization removed contestant age limits in a bid to be more inclusive.
The septuagenarian wants to use her accomplishment as proof that you’re never too old to pursue your dreams, declaring: “I feel that all women now have a new stage of opportunity, strength and beauty.”
Jackie Garcia-Martinez, CEO of Bazaar Models, who represents Teijo among other contestants, says she’s proud to rep “women of all shapes, ages and races.”
“As I prepare my team to compete at Miss Texas, I’m thrilled to support these women who inspire me as a leader every day,” she said.
Speaking of ageless beauty queens, Alejandra Rodriquez, 60, recently fell short of winning the Miss Argentina competition, dashing her hopes of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant ever.
This isn’t the first time an unlikely contestant has taken the pageant world by storm.
In June, marine spouse Bailey Anne Kennedy, 31, was crowned the first-ever transgender Miss Maryland USA, meaning that she will compete at the Miss USA competition.
