Just three years ago, Christina Dietze would never have been able to fulfill her dream.
The model and fashion designer has been announced as the oldest finalist in the history of the Miss Universe Australia competition at the age of 38 – though she could not have achieved this feat before 2023, when the age and marital status restrictions for the worldwide competition were lifted.
Before 2023, all Miss Universe contestants were required to be 18 to 28 years old and single. Now, women over 28 and those who are married, divorced, or mothers are eligible for the competition.
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Christina Dietze has made history as Miss Universe Australia’s oldest finalist (Instagram/@christina_dietze)
The previous barriers seemed to provide the perfect timing for her entry to the competition, Dietze told the Herald Sun.
“It feels like this is exactly the time that I am meant to be doing this,” she told the outlet.
“I’ve taken care of myself and I’ve been in the modelling industry for a while now. I feel once we get to our 30s we have lived through some tougher experiences in life and we grow. I have something to share and give back.”
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The 38-year-old runs a fashion label. (Instagram/@christina_dietze)
Dietze, who is the owner of slow fashion Melbourne-founded label, House Of Pet Snake, will be nominating ToyBox Australia as her charity of choice during the competition, helping raise funds for sick and disadvantaged children.
The model, who was once linked to former Collingwood player Nathan Buckley, is busy doing pilates everyday as she prepares for the beauty pageant, with the next stage being the bikini elimination round in April.
Dietze is far from the oldest contestant in the pageant.
That title goes to 81-year-old South Korean fashion model Choi Soon-hwa, who made it to the Miss Universe Korea 2024 finals and performed in the singing contest before being eliminated.
Dietze is getting ready for the swimsuit portion. (Instagram/@christina_dietze)
Choi Soon-hwa was by far the oldest Miss Universe contrestant. (AP)
“Even at this age, I had the courage to grab onto an opportunity and take on a challenge,” Choi told The Associated Press.
“I want people to look at me and realise that you can live healthier and find joy in life when you find things you want to do and challenge yourself to achieve that dream.”
Choi was a former hospital care worker, and was encouraged by a patient to begin a career in modelling, which she launched at 72, debuting at Seoul Fashion Week at 74 in 2018.
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She previosuly told CNN: “Now that the age restriction has been lifted, I said, ‘I should give it a try.’ The competition is more than just a tiara or a title; it’s about breaking barriers and demonstrating that health, vitality, and beauty are achievable well into old age.
“I want to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy? How did she maintain that body? What’s your diet?’ I’m not competing to win but to set an example that one can live a healthy and vibrant life at any age.”
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