'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (2024)

'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (1)'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (2)Danielle Latimer

After 15 years of competing in beauty pageants Christina Chalk thought her chances of making it to the international stage were over when she "aged out" at 28.

But just three years later she has been named Miss Universe GB and is preparing to head to Mexico to represent Britain in this year's Miss Universe competition.

For the first time in the pageant's history, women over the age of 28 have been allowed to enter, opening the door for the 31-year-old from Dunblane to give it one last go.

"It was a sign from the universe," she told BBC Scotland News.

As well as becoming the first Scot to make it into the competition, if Christina takes home the crown in November she will become the oldest ever Miss Universe.

The removal of an upper age limit comes as the competition has moved towards becoming more diverse in recent years.

It now allows married women, transgender women and single mothers to compete, but contestants still need to be over 18 to enter.

'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (3)'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (4)Danielle Latimer

Christina won her first modelling competition aged 16, but in her late 20s she thought she'd have to give up on her pageant dream.

"When I reached the original age limit of 28, I’d been runner up at Miss Universe GB and at Miss Scotland, so I thought this is it. If it's for me then great, if it’s not then I can move on with my life."

She entered the competition, for what she believed to be the last time and finished as first runner-up.

"It was quite a big blow, that was the last time I could ever enter. The dream of Miss Universe was never going to happen and that took a while to digest," she said.

The University of Glasgow graduate has spent the last three years working as a property sales manager and creating an online platform sharing tips for young women to improve their self-esteem.

"I was having a bit of a lull in work and I just felt like I was missing something.

"I thought I need a new challenge and the next day they lifted the age limit on Miss Universe. I thought 'oh gosh not again'.

"I had felt like the heavens had decided this wasn’t for me but then then this happened and it was like a sign from the universe, literally."

'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (5)'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (6)Danielle Latimer

Christina has also previously competed in Miss Philippines, which she qualified for through parentage on her mum's side.

She was then put on the waiting list for the UK competition.

After a last minute drop out she made it to the contest and went on to be crowned Miss Universe GB 2024.

She said: "To be the first Scottish person to represent Great Britain is such an honour. It's what I've been pushing and I've made it so I'm very, very proud."

Christina will head to Mexico in November to compete against contestants from all across the world.

'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (7)'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (8)Danielle Latimer

She has welcomed the pageants attempt at become more diverse and said it would be "monumental" for an older woman to win.

"I think its great because it shows we don’t expire as women when we reach 28, 31 or even 40," she said.

"I think between 27 and 30 as a woman you are really turning the pressure you put on yourself up. I think you re expected to have met your life partner, you are expected to be killing it in work.

"Everybody is achieving things so much later in life now, I think I put so much pressure on myself in the last couple of years that I didn't realise I was just stepping into my power.

"Maybe I wasn’t ready before, it wouldn’t have been at the right time in my life so I guess it has all slotted in the way it needs to."

'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (9)'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (10)Danielle Latimer

The rule changes haven't come without controversy though after it was reported the pageants owner, Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, said the new rules were simply to improve the competition's image and none of the "non-traditional" entrants would ever win.

"If it was said then obviously it is disheartening," Christina said "but I think when you are competing in a pageant the winner is obvious they shine bright, their aura is undeniable.

"Should you fit into one of those new categories or not if you are destined to win it, that is obvious to the judges, the fans and the audience."

Beauty

Dunblane

Philippines

'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31' (2024)

FAQs

Is there an age limit for Miss Universe? ›

"The Miss Universe Organization announces the elimination of all age limits across all Miss Universe and associated pageants," it read. "This change will apply for all 2024 pageants globally. Starting then, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be in Miss Universe."

How old is Miss Universe 1978? ›

Margaret Gardiner (born 21 August 1959) is a South African journalist and beauty queen who was the winner of the Miss Universe 1978, the first South African woman to win the Miss Universe title. She was 18 years old when she won the pageant.

Who became the Miss Universe in 1997? ›

Brook Lee

Are Miss Universe allowed to have surgery? ›

In the end, plastic surgery's official place in the world of beauty pageants is entirely up to its judges. Most judges do not disclose their criteria and often decide on their own personal ideas of what makes a proper beauty queen, with or without the use of plastic surgery.

Does Miss Universe have a weight limit? ›

Miss Universe contestants are not required to be a certain weight. Contestants are judged on their overall physical appearance, which includes things like height, body proportions, and fitness level.

Who is the oldest Miss Universe crown? ›

The crown of Miss Universe has changed nine times over the course of its 70-year history. The Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown (1952) was the first crown. It was previously owned by the Russian monarchy, and used to crown Armi Kuusela in 1952.

How old was Miss Universe 1988? ›

Aged 19, Simon was crowned as Miss Universe 1988 by outgoing titleholder Cecilia Bolocco on May 24, 1988, in Taipei, Taiwan. She became the second Thai woman to win the title after Apasra Hongsakula who won Miss Universe 1965.

Which Miss Universe was dethroned? ›

A few months after Fedorova's crowning, she was dethroned by the Miss Universe Organization. She later stated in an interview that she had declined to perform her duties because she was so insulted by her treatment on The Howard Stern Show.

Who won Miss Universe 1987? ›

Cecilia Carolina Bolocco Fonck (born May 19, 1965) is a Chilean actress, TV host and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universo Chile 1987 and Miss Universe 1987.

What country has won Miss Universe the most? ›

The United States is the country with the most winners with a total of nine winners. The first time it did so was in 1954, when Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson won the contest. The United States then added victories in 1956, 1960, 1967, 1980, 1995, 1997, 2012 and 2022.

Do you get paid to be a Miss Universe? ›

Although cash prizes have changed throughout the years, the most recent Miss Universe events award its winner US$250,000. The reigning queen also gets to live for a year in the organization's luxurious apartment in New York City, alongside the winner of Miss USA.

Can you be pregnant in Miss Universe? ›

In September 2023, the Miss Universe Organisation announced it was extending eligibility to include all women aged 18 and over. A year earlier, rules had broadened allowing married women and mothers to compete. Seeing the news, Lambie believed it would be fun to do another pageant, but she was pregnant.

Can Miss USA have breast implants? ›

The Miss USA pageant has no limits on cosmetic surgery, although it has allowed contestants to use padding since 1990 to discourage breast implants.

What is the oldest you can be in a pageant? ›

The 71-year-old was able to enter the Miss Texas USA pageant competition after the Miss Universe Organization eliminated age limit restrictions in all of their associated pageants, paving the way for any adult woman to compete.

Did Miss USA get rid of the age limit? ›

None of the older women made it to the top 20. Miss USA lifted its age limit for this year's pageant. None of the older women made it to the top 20. This was the first year that women over the age of 28 were allowed to compete at Miss USA.

Does Miss World have an age limit? ›

These requirements also vary by country - so it is important to contact your specific countries chapter in order to determine the age. For instance - the US requires contestants to be between 18 and 26 years old.

What's the age limit for Miss America? ›

Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28.

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