60-year-old lawyer aspires to become oldest Miss Universe

Alejandra Rodriguez. Image: missuniversoar/Instagram

A 60-year-old-lawyer and journalist from Argentina, who was crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires this week, aspires to represent her country in the global beauty pageant and become the oldest Miss Universe.

Alejandra Rodriguez is one step closer to her dream as she is set to compete for the national title next month, representing her province.

“I am thrilled to be representing this new paradigm in beauty pageants because we are inaugurating a new stage in which women not only (have) physical beauty but (also a) set of values. I am the first of this generation to start with this,” Rodriquez was quoted by Hola! as saying.

Another beauty queen aiming to break stereotypes is Haidy Cruz, a 47-year-old health coach and mother of two, who will represent the Dominican Republic in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in September.

Haidy Cruz. Image: haidycruzfit/Instagram

“Participating in a beauty pageant always fascinated me. However, due to becoming a mother at a young age, I was never able to make that dream a reality. Miss Universe, which promotes inclusion, offered me the chance to pursue my dream. My inner voice urged me to go for it, to experience the journey instead of just hearing about it,” she told HOLA! USA.

The Miss Universe pageant, which had initially allowed only contestants aged 18 to 28 who were single with no children, last year eliminated all age limits across all Miss Universe associated pageants, starting with the 2024 pageants.

R’Bonney Gabriel, who was 28 when she represented the United States in the Miss Universe 2022 pageant, is currently the oldest contestant to have won the title.

During the question-and-answer portion of the competition, Gabriel was asked what changes she would like to see in the Miss Universe pageant and she replied: “For me, I would like to see an age increase because I am 28 years old, and that is the oldest age to compete. And I think it’s a beautiful thing.”

“My favorite quote is ‘if not now, then when?’ Because as a woman, I believe age does not define us. It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday, but it’s now. The time is now that you can go after what you want,” said the first Filipino American to be crowned Miss Universe.