Alejandra Rodriguez, a 60-year-old Argentine beauty queen, made headlines when she was crowned Miss Buenos Aires, becoming the first sexagenarian to win a contest organized by the Miss Universe franchise. Despite not winning the Miss Argentina title on Saturday, Rodriguez won the “best face” category and celebrated her journey as the beginning of a societal shift in beauty perceptions.
“This is the first step of a change that is coming,” Rodriguez, an attorney and journalist, told CNN en Español. She emphasized the need for an expanded concept of beauty beyond traditional standards.
Rodriguez’s participation was possible due to the Miss Universe organization’s rule change in 2023, removing the upper age limit for contestants. Previously, participants had to be between 18 and 28 years old. The updated rules also allowed married, divorced, pregnant women, and mothers to compete for the first time in the pageant’s 70-year history.
“There was also a 40-year-old woman who participated, another who is 37. It’s like the limits are already expanding,” Rodriguez noted. “There were women who are mothers, things that were unthinkable before in Miss Universe.”
Rodriguez believes her participation signifies a broader shift in beauty standards, challenging stereotypes related to age, shape, and weight. While she didn’t earn the right to represent Argentina in Miss Universe, the winner, Magalí Benejam, at 29, would have been too old to compete under previous rules, underscoring the evolving inclusivity of the pageant.
