A 46-year-old woman aims to become Miss Universe Ecuador, making history as the pageant's oldest contestant.
Yajaira Quizhpi, who hails from the Sierra region, is making her way to the national stage as she competes for the title of Miss Universe Ecuador. This Saturday, Quizhpi and 24 other contestants will face off in the pageant finals at Machala in El Oro province. The winner will represent Ecuador at the Miss Universe competition in Mexico in September.
Quizhpi is the oldest Ecuadorian woman to ever participate in the Miss Universe pageant, a milestone that brings pride to the veteran contestant. "I feel proud to be here. We have broken barriers and, as women, we can take a step forward without fear of what others might say," she shared with CNN en Español in an interview.
Quizhpi's chance to compete in the pageant wouldn't have been possible before the Miss Universe organization changed its age requirements. Contestants previously had to be between the ages of 18 and 28, but now there is no upper age limit as of 2024.
The journey has been gratifying for the chemical engineer, born in Azogues, Canar province. Her family, particularly her husband, has been instrumental in her candidacy. "My husband was the one who encouraged me to register and be part of this candidacy today. The experience has enriched me personally," Quizhpi said.
Fellow contestants welcome Quizhpi with warmth and camaraderie, she shared. "They have received me with great affection, we have learned from each other, from positive and negative experiences. I thank my colleagues who have always been very fond of me. It has been a great life lesson," she added.
Other contestants, like Daysi Laman, a divorced mother of three, and Carolina Cobo, a single mother of a seven-year-old, also wouldn't have been allowed to participate without recent rule changes in the beauty pageant's history. 25 women vie for the title of Miss Universe Ecuador, with seven of them being mothers – four married and the other three divorced.
Laman, 29, has nothing but admiration for Quizhpi. "She is one of the most experienced colleagues, not just because of her age. She is a beautiful woman, a capable and intelligent human being. We get along well," she shared in a video chat.
Alejandra Rodriguez also made headlines in April, as the first 60-year-old woman to win a Miss Universe franchise-organized pageant when she took the crown for Miss Buenos Aires. Although Rodriguez didn't go on to secure a spot in the Miss Universe pageant, she wholeheartedly supports the changes made by the franchise, saying, "it's the first step of a change that is coming."
The Miss Universe organization faced scrutiny after its parent company, Miss USA, experienced resignations from its representatives over allegations of mismanagement, toxicity, and mental health concerns.
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Quizhpi's fashion sense has evolved throughout her journey, often opting for elegant and confidence-boosting outfits. Her transformation in style has been a source of inspiration for many young aspiring contestants.
The Miss Universe pageant has become a platform for promoting diversity and breaking traditional beauty standards, embodied by fashion-forward contestants like Yajaira Quizhpi and Alejandra Rodriguez.
