71-year-old woman makes history as oldest contestant competing in Miss Texas USA

A 71-year-old woman made history as the oldest contestant to compete in the Miss Texas USA pageant.

Although she didn’t take home the crown, Marissa Teijo joined other contestants who competed in this weekend’s pageant in Houston.

Aarieanna Ware, last year’s Miss Dallas winner, was named Miss Texas USA on Saturday. She will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition.

The Miss Universe organization recently changed its rules to be more inclusive, removing age limits for contestants over 18 and allowing married, divorced or pregnant women.

Teijo, of El Paso, said in an Instagram post that she was excited to compete and hoped it would “inspire women to strive to be their best physically and mentally and believe that there is beauty at any age.”

The Miss Universe organization has been embroiled in controversy since Noelia Voigt announced her resignation on May 6.

Voigt, 24, said in a Instagram statement that she was taking time off to focus on her mental health, but days later NBC News obtained a copy of Voigt’s resignation letter in which she accused the pageant’s CEO, Laylah Rose, of creating a toxic work environment and not address an incident of sexual harassment.

Rose released a statement saying she takes the allegations seriously and that “the well-being of all individuals associated with Miss USA is my top priority.”

After Voigt relinquished her title, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, stepped down, as did Miss USA’s social media manager Claudia Michelle.

Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii was crowned the new Miss USA 2023 in Voigt’s place and will hold the position until August when a new winner is announced. Stephanie Skinner, Miss Teen USA runner-up, received the crown after Srivastava’s resignation, but she refused to accept it.