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- 71-year-old competing in Miss Texas USA pageant (newsbreak.com)
This weekend, a 71-year-old El Paso resident is breaking records as the oldest competitor ever to grace the Miss Texas USA pageant stage.
Marissa Teijo will take part in the event happening in Houston, with hopes to advance further to represent Texas at the Miss USA pageant, which is the precursor to the international Miss Universe competition.
This year, the Miss Universe organization has made significant changes by eliminating age restrictions and allowing competitors who are married, pregnant, or divorced to participate, aiming for a more inclusive event. Despite recent challenges, including the resignations of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA in May, Teijo remains undeterred.
Teijo expressed in an email her desire to convey that it’s never too late to pursue one’s dreams. She believes the changes provide all women with a new platform to showcase their strength, beauty, and opportunities.
As the oldest among nearly a hundred contestants, Teijo, an El Paso native, is more determined than ever to chase her dream. She hopes to encourage both her hometown of El Paso and Texans at large to push the boundaries in their respective pursuits, demonstrating that age should not be a barrier.
Jackie Garcia-Martinez, CEO of Bazaar Models and Teijo’s representative, highlighted their pride in representing diverse models, including Teijo and seven other young women from El Paso competing in the pageant. Garcia-Martinez emphasized the agency’s commitment to showcasing women of all backgrounds, ages, and body types, celebrating the inspiration they provide daily.
María Cortés González, who can be contacted at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @EPTMaria and TikTok at eptmariacg, covers this exceptional story.
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- 71-year-old competing in Miss Texas USA pageant (newsbreak.com)