Texas beauty queen Marissa Teijo, 71, makes history as oldest ever Miss USA contestant

A Texas beauty queen has made history as the oldest-ever contestant to participate in the Miss Texas USA pageant. 

Marissa Teijo, a 71-year-old from El Paso, will represent Texas in the Miss USA competition. 

Teijo will compete against nearly 100 competitors this weekend. If she wins, she will go on to represent Texas in the Miss USA competition in August. 

This comes as the beauty contest lifted certain restrictions in an effort to make the organization more inclusive. Now contestants can be older, married, pregnant or divorced. 

'I am delighted to be a part of this incredible new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant,' Teijo wrote in a recent Instagram caption, accompanied by a professional headshot. 

'In doing so, I hope to inspire women to strive to be their best physical and mental self and believe there is beauty at any age,' she continued. 

Supporters rallied together in her comments, pledging their unwavering support for the inspiring beauty queen. 

'Gorgeous!! you got my vote!, one user commented. 

'Super proud of you! Amazing, kind, and sweet lady, wish you the best!' another wrote. 

On the Miss USA site, 114 votes are listed below her name. 

The competition kicked off its two-day pageant Friday at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel. 

In April, a 60-year-old Argentinian lawyer hoped to make history by becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant.

Alejandra Rodriguez proved that age really is just a number after being crowned Miss Buenos Aires in early April. 

The original rules for the Miss Universe pageant meant that only women who were childless, unmarried and aged between 18 to 28 years old could enter - but that all changed as of September last year.

Texan R'Bonney Gabriel was the oldest contestant to win the international title back in 2022 at the age of 28.

But when the rules changed in 2023 to allow women up to 73 years old to take part, Alejandra seized her chance.

The fearless legal advisor, who works at a hospital, told Hola!: 'I am thrilled to be representing this new paradigm in beauty pageants, because we are inaugurating a new stage in which women are not only physical beauty, but another set of values.

'I am the first of this generation to start with this.'

She credits her lifestyle for helping her maintain her ever-youthful looks.

'The basic thing is to have a healthy life, eat well, do physical activity,' she told the outlet. 'Normal care, nothing too extraordinary and a little genetics.'

Speaking about her diet, Alejandra shared: 'What I try to do is intermittent fasting - I think that helps a lot.

'Then I try to eat organic foods, a lot of fruit, a lot of vegetables, and use good creams.'