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71-year-old breaks age barrier in Miss Texas.
Marissa Teijo defies age norms by becoming the oldest contestant in Miss Texas USA pageant history at 71 years old.
Published June 24, 2024 at 10:31am by Alexis Simmerman
71-Year-Old Makes History at Miss Texas USA Pageant
At 71, Marissa Teijo of El Paso became the oldest contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant this weekend. Teijo, who didn't win, said competing against 100 other women motivated her to chase her dreams: "It's never too late... I feel that all women now have a new stage of opportunity, strength and beauty."
The Miss Universe organization lifted age limits and other restrictions for contestants this year, drawing scrutiny after the recent resignations of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. But Teijo's agent, Jackie Garcia-Martinez, is proud to represent diverse women: "I represent women of all shapes, ages, and races... [I'm] thrilled to support these women who inspire me as a leader every day."
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Read more: 71-year-old may not have won Miss Texas USA, but she still made history