Never too late: 71-year-old woman makes history as oldest contestant competing in Miss Texas USA

Never too late: 71-year-old woman makes history as oldest contestant competing in Miss Texas USA
Marissa Teijo, a 71-year-old woman from El Paso, is set to make history as the oldest contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant. This groundbreaking event is taking place in Houston, where Teijo will join other hopefuls in the competition this weekend. The winner of this pageant will go on to represent Texas in the Miss USA competition, marking a significant milestone in the pageant world.
Teijo's participation is particularly notable as it comes on the heels of a major rule change by the Miss Universe organization. The organization has recently adopted more inclusive policies, removing age limits for contestants over 18 and allowing women who are married, divorced, or pregnant to compete. This shift aims to broaden the scope of the pageant and reflect a more diverse array of contestants.
In an Instagram post, Teijo expressed her excitement about competing and her hope to inspire women to achieve their best physical and mental selves, regardless of age. She emphasized that beauty and potential are not confined to youth, encouraging women to embrace their journeys at any stage of life.
The Miss Texas USA pageant began its two-day event on Friday at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel. Amidst the excitement of the competition, the Miss Universe organization is also dealing with internal turmoil. On May 6, Noelia Voigt, the reigning Miss USA, announced her resignation, citing a need to focus on her mental health. However, NBC News later obtained a resignation letter from Voigt that accused the pageant's CEO, Laylah Rose, of fostering a toxic work environment and failing to address a sexual harassment incident.
In response, Rose issued a statement asserting her commitment to the well-being of everyone involved with Miss USA and stated that she takes all allegations seriously. The controversy did not stop with Voigt's resignation; Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, and Miss USA’s social media manager Claudia Michelle also stepped down in the wake of the scandal.
Following Voigt's resignation, Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii was crowned the new Miss USA 2023. Gankiewicz will hold the title until a new winner is announced in August. Meanwhile, Stephanie Skinner, the Miss Teen USA runner-up, was offered the crown after Srivastava's departure but chose not to accept it.
Amidst these upheavals, Teijo's participation in the Miss Texas USA pageant brings a refreshing and positive spotlight to the event. Her trailblazing presence underscores a significant shift towards inclusivity and the celebration of diverse experiences and backgrounds in the world of pageantry.