Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez, a 60-year-old legal adviser, competed in the Miss Argentina pageant but fell short of the crown. Rodríguez won the "best face" category but did not progress further.
Rodríguez's entry into the competition was seen as a challenge to ageism in beauty pageants. She said that her participation opened doors for older women and that it was an adventure for her.
Rodríguez wore a modest one-piece swimsuit with a shawl during the swimsuit competition. The judges awarded "best swimsuit" to Magali Benejam, a 29-year-old actress and model who wore a bikini. Benejam was also crowned Miss Argentina and will represent the country at Miss Universe.
This year, Miss Universe dropped the age limit of contestants, allowing women over 18 to compete. The change is part of a series of updates to the pageant in recent years. The pageant has also dropped requirements that contestants be unmarried, pregnant, or heterosexual.
However, some critics argue that the emphasis on youth and beauty remains. Lala Pasquinelli, an Argentine feminist activist, said that Rodríguez's participation sends an unrealistic message about what 60-year-old women should look like.
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