CNN
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Ecuador might have a 46-year-old lady representing the small Andean nation within the Miss Universe magnificence pageant later this 12 months.
Yajaira Quizhpi – who represents the Sierra area – is vying for the nationwide title of Miss Universe Ecuador.
This Saturday, she and 24 different contestants will compete on the pageant’s last in Machala, within the El Oro province. The winner will go on to characterize Ecuador on the Miss Universe competitors in Mexico in September.
Quizhpi is the oldest lady in the nation’s historical past to take part within the contest organized by the Miss Universe franchise.
“I really feel proud to be allowed to be right here. We have now damaged boundaries and, as girls, we will take a step ahead with out concern of what they’ll say,” she instructed CNN en Español in a video interview.
Her quest has solely turn out to be a actuality after the Miss Universe group modified its guidelines associated to age. Beforehand, contestants needed to be between the ages of 18 and 28. As of 2024, there is no such thing as a higher age restrict.
“The expertise has been rewarding. It has enriched me personally. My husband and my son have supported me. My husband was the one who inspired me to register and be a part of this candidacy as we speak,” she added.
Quizhpi is a chemical engineer who was born in Azogues, within the province of Cañar.
She says fellow contestants have supported her and that the concern of criticism will be overcome with willpower and honest friendship.
“They (different contestants) have obtained me with nice affection, I’ve seen camaraderie, we have now realized from one another, from constructive and damaging experiences. I thank my colleagues who’ve at all times been very keen on me. It has been an amazing life lesson,” she mentioned.
Quizhpi isn’t the one contestant who wouldn’t have been capable of take part earlier than latest adjustments in Miss Universe’s guidelines have been launched in 2023.
For the primary time in its greater than 70-year-history, the franchise green-lit the participation of girls who’re married or divorced and who’ve given start or are pregnant. Of the 25 contestants for Miss Universe Ecuador, seven members are moms – 4 are married and the opposite three are divorced.
29-year-old contestant Daysi Laman, who’s divorced with three kids, says the pageant is making nice strides and expresses help for Quizhpi.
“She is among the most skilled colleagues, not solely due to her age. She is a lovely lady, a succesful and clever human being. We get alongside effectively. I love (her) bravery,” she mentioned in a video name.
One other participant, 29-year-old Carolina Cobo, is a single mom of a seven-year-old woman. She says that magnificence is subjective and that the brand new guidelines of the competition are serving to fight social stigmas.
“We don’t should lock girls into the concept that if they’re a sure age, they’ll not do sure issues or as a result of they’re a mom. We proceed to be girls with a dream, with a message and a life intention,” mentioned Cobo in a video interview, who represents the province of Pichincha.
This isn’t the primary time in Latin America {that a} magnificence pageant contestant’s age has drawn consideration.
In April, Alejandra Rodriguez made headlines the world over when she was topped Miss Buenos Aires, changing into the primary sexagenarian to win a contest organized by the Miss Universe franchise. Whereas Rodriguez’s Miss Universe run resulted in Might when she wasn’t chosen to characterize Argentina, she instructed CNN that her participation was “step one of a change that’s coming.”
The Miss Universe group has come below scrutiny in latest weeks, because the father or mother firm of Miss USA. In Might, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA resigned inside days of each other amid allegations of mismanagement, toxicity and situations that impacted their psychological well being.