Day 4422: Miss Universe, and WonderWoman.

     

"Death Toll": junk collage

 

 

  

Want music?

    

Click: Roberta Flack, The Closer I Get to You.

  

 

 

2GN2S

South Korea's most glamorous granny? Miss Universe judges think so.

   

How would you like to spend your 80s? Some gardening, maybe learning a language, a bit of travelling, spending time with the grandchildren. Or perhaps entering an international beauty contest with the ultimate aim of launching your modelling career on the world stage. For Choi Soon-hwa, it was a no-brainer. 

At 81, Choi Soon-hwa is the oldest ever Miss Universe contestant

This week, the 81-year-old took to the stage with women a quarter of her age for Miss Universe South Korea, hoping to make it to the finals in Mexico later this year.

The question, though, is why? "After raising children and going through hardships, it’s just two people left, and that’s when you need to find what you want to do," the former hospital worker explained to the BBC shortly after she came off stage. For Ms Choi, the thing she wanted to do has been modelling, ever since a patient suggested she take it up at the spritely age of 72. The comment gave her the confidence to take the leap after several years of financial hardship, which had pushed her and her family to the brink of ruin.

"It was something I couldn’t have imagined," she says. "However, there was no clear path or guidance for me, but since the Universe competition had no age restriction, I participated with the goal of reaching the global stage." What it did not buy was a ticket to Mexico: the Miss Universe South Korea crown went instead to Han Ariel, 22. 

Han Ariel, 22

Ms Choi didn't walk away completely empty handed however - but with the title of "Best Dressed".

"Since this is still new, there’s a lot of buzz, but as more seniors participate, perspectives on them will shift, and there will come a time when seniors can compete in world competitions," she says. "But for now, it’s still time for the young to take the stage."And whatever happens  next, she knows some of her biggest fans will always be at home in the form of her grandsons, aged 23 and 24.

Wonder Woman flew (drove) in Wednesday! She came to drive me to my double cataract surgery Thursday, and post op appointment on Friday. We went to the store and drug store, then met Carl and Cheryl at Zov's for a Mother-Daughter dinner together, which WW called my last supper, (before the surgery) nothing after midnight. I will be wearing protective goggles after the procedure and all day, every night for a week. I have already purchased the prescription eyedrops for after care. Surgery is set for 11 am Friday, October 4, 2023 in Laguna Hills. The procedure takes 15 minutes for each eye, and 30 minutes in recovery, so 1 hour and on my way home.

 

  

 

A 6+ minute video, Castaway, here

 

 

 

  

 

Just because ...

  

Turquoise Parrot

 

Friday's Smiles ...