Kim Yu-rim, who will represent South Korea at the 75th Miss Universe pageant. [Miss Universe Korea]
Kim Yu-rim, who will represent South Korea at the 75th Miss Universe pageant. [Miss Universe Korea]

Kim Yu-rim, born in 1991, will represent South Korea at Miss Universe this year — a sign of how dramatically the pageant landscape has shifted since the competition scrapped its long-standing age and marital restrictions. Where contestants once had to be single women between 18 and 28, women in their 30s, 60s and even 80s are now taking the stage.

According to Miss Universe Korea, Kim, who was crowned 2026 Miss Universe Korea, will depart for Puerto Rico, a US territory, on Nov. 6 for roughly three weeks of group training before competing in the 75th Miss Universe world finals.

A graduate of Dong Seoul University's department of performing arts, Kim has worked as a choreographer and actor. She is 35 this year and plans to showcase K-pop choreography and confident stage performances drawing on her extensive experience. She is currently ranked second among likely top finishers on international pageant fan communities and prediction sites, trailing only the Brazilian representative.

Kim is the first South Korean representative to advance to the Miss Universe world finals since the age cap was lifted. The Miss Universe Organization officially abolished the upper age limit in September 2023, opening the competition to any adult woman 18 or older. The organization had already removed restrictions on married women, divorcees and mothers, significantly lowering the barriers to entry.

Since 2024, the first year without an age limit, national selection contests around the world have drawn contestants who would never have been eligible before — including women in their 80s.

In Argentina, Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez, a lawyer and journalist, made headlines when she won Miss Buenos Aires at 60. In Canada, Lorraine Peters entered Miss Universe Canada at 58. Under the old rule barring anyone over 28, neither woman could have competed.

The world finals also produced a new age record. Malta's Beatrice Njoya competed at the 2024 Miss Universe world pageant at 40, becoming the oldest finalist in the competition's history. A mother of three, Njoya was among the most prominent participants to reach the global stage in the first year after the age cap was removed.

In South Korea that same year, 80-year-old model Choi Soon-hwa entered the domestic selection contest and won the Best Dresser award, drawing wide coverage from international media. Of the roughly 120 contestants at the 2024 world pageant, more than 25 were reported to be older than 28 — the former upper age limit.


bbo@heraldcorp.com