BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. The dreams of a 60-year-old woman aiming to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history came to an abrupt end Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez, a hospital legal adviser, had gained international attention and acclaim for her participation in the Miss Argentina competition, challenging ageism in a world often fixated on youth. Although she did not win the coveted Miss Argentina title, she was awarded the title of “Best Face,” one of several categories including Best Evening Gown, Best Swimsuit, and Most Elegant.
During the contest, Rodríguez expressed gratitude to those who supported her victory in the Miss Buenos Aires competition last month. Her triumph there followed Miss Universe’s removal of its long-standing age limit, catapulting her from obscurity to local fame.
“As a result of what happened to me, I believe a new door has opened for many people who perhaps did not have it easy,” Rodríguez told The Associated Press backstage, still dressed in her red cocktail dress with slits revealing her legs. “It was an adventure and I had no expectations of this other than taking on a new challenge.”
For the swimsuit portion of the Miss Argentina contest, Rodríguez chose a modest one-piece suit with a shawl draped over her shoulders, adding a playful shimmy to the delight of the audience. However, the judges favored Magali Benejam, a 29-year-old actress and model from Cordoba, who wore a skimpy blue bikini and sky-high stilettos. Benejam won “Best Swimsuit” and ultimately the Miss Argentina crown.
“I’m so excited and so grateful to be here because the competition was not easy,” Benejam told AP. She will represent Argentina in Mexico City for the global competition in November.
Benejam’s victory, like Rodríguez’s participation, would have been impossible a year ago due to the pageant’s previous age cap of 28. This year, for the first time in its 73-year history, the Miss Universe contest is welcoming participants over the age of 18 without an upper limit.
This change is part of a broader effort by the Miss Universe pageant to modernize and address longstanding feminist criticisms. The pageant has removed many controversial eligibility requirements, allowing married, pregnant, lesbian, and transgender women to compete. It also eliminated all mentions of “beauty” from its website, emphasizing instead qualities like empathy, confidence, and authenticity.
Despite these reforms, the contest has retained language highlighting “young women,” indirectly maintaining certain beauty standards. Rodríguez’s entry into the competition sparked debate, with some praising her challenge to ageism, while others, like Argentine feminist activist Lala Pasquinelli, questioned the message it sent.
“It’s contributing to a sense that everyone should be able to look like this, all 60-year-old women should have the appearance of youth and freshness, as if they were 25,” Pasquinelli said. “If they don’t, it’s because they aren’t willing to make the sacrifices.”
While Rodríguez’s journey at the Miss Argentina pageant ended without the crown, her participation has undoubtedly left a lasting impact, inspiring discussions about beauty, age, and societal expectations.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
