Oldest Miss Texas contestant in history; 71-year-old competing in pageant this weekend

Marissa Teijo, of El Paso, is set to make history as the oldest contestant ever to compete in the Miss Texas USA pageant, at 71 years old.

The event, held this weekend in Houston, will see Teijo and almost 100 competitors vie for the chance to represent Texas in the Miss USA competition later this August, reports NBC News.

In a recent post to her Instagram page, Teijo wrote that she is “delighted to be a part of this incredible new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant. In doing so, I hope to inspire women to strive to be their best physical and mental self and believe there is beauty at any age,” she added.

The septuagenarian reportedly grew up on a farm, and developed an interest in fitness at a young age, participating in multiple athletic competitions before switching to beauty pageants.

A recent rule change in the Miss Universe organization made it possible for Teijo to compete this year, by allowing all women over 18 to compete, including those who are pregnant, married, or divorced.

The organization has been steeped in controversy since May, when Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 Uma Sofia Srivastava resigned from their positions within days of one another, and accused the organizers of abuse and bullying.

In her resignation letter, Voigt called the organization a “toxic work environment” and attributed her shocking exit to what she said was “at best … poor management and, at worst … bullying and harassment.”