Alejandra Rodriguez, the 60-year-old beauty queen who competed for the title of Miss Argentina at the Miss Universe pageant, ended her historic journey on Saturday, May 25, when she did not secure first place.
Although Rodriguez, who is also a lawyer and journalist, did not take home the crown that would have allowed her to represent her country in an international pageant, she did win the “best face” category, according to the Associated Press.
She is also optimistic that her success so far and her message are resonating.
“This is the first step of the change that is coming,” she told CNN.
Rodriguez said her career in the headlines has opened doors for others.
“As a result of what happened to me, I believe a new door has opened for a lot of people who may not have had it easy,” she told the AP.
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“It was an adventure and I had no expectations from this other than accepting a new challenge,” she said.
Last month, Rodriguez won the Miss Buenos Aires pageant, becoming the first 60-year-old contestant to win the title.
In the process, she beat out 34 others, who ranged in age from 18 to 73.
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“I’m thrilled to represent this new paradigm in beauty pageants as we inaugurate a new phase where women are not just physical beauty, but another set of values,” Rodriguez said after her win, praising her “confidence” and “passion for representing the women of my generation .”
I am the first in this generation to start this, she said then.
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Alejandra Rodriguez.
MARCOS GOMEZ/AFP via Getty
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The Miss Universe Organization announced in September 2023 that it would no longer have age restrictions for pageant contestants — meaning any woman over the age of 18 can compete.
The new guidelines are a stark change from previous restrictions, which required women to be between the ages of 18 and 28.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education