Sao Paulo
Social networks that follow beauty pageants were flooded this week with images of Argentine actress and model Iris Amelia Alioto. At 72 years old and a greatgrandmother, she was announced on Monday (15) as the official candidate for the Buenos Aires leg of Miss Universe Argentina 2024.
Iris, a dance teacher and translator, is the first Miss Universe contestant in the Latin American country to be over 50 years old and the oldest contestant of all Miss Universe contestants in its more than 70year history. The actress, born in 1952, has fewer than 500 followers on her Instagram profile and her resume includes appearances in Argentine film and television productions as well as names like Cecilia Roth one of the country's most famous actresses.
“I’m old enough and I know where I’m going. I am not afraid of any aggression or hostility I may receive from the public. I think if they insult me, I will blow a kiss!” she said when asked about the bathing costume parade in an interview with a local television show.
Her candidacy was only possible after the Miss Universe Organization announced a change in age regulations last September, advocating for the abolition of age limits for participation in the competition. The novelty is historic, as this had never happened in the more than 70 years of existence of the competition, which was created in 1952 and came into force in January 2024. Previously, only mistakes between the ages of 18 and 28 could be taken into account in the competition.
Iris' initiative apparently encouraged other Argentine women over 28 to apply. In addition to girls in their early 20s, the list of Miss Universe Buenos Aires 2024 includes health worker Maria Alejandra de Pascua, 54, announced on Tuesday (16), and model and English teacher Romina Alarcón, 37, announced on Wednesday (17). ).
Another highlight among the candidates for the crown of the capital Buenos Aires is Iris' granddaughter: student Abril Ayelen Manfrin, 20 years old. She, a plussize model and mother of a 3yearold boy, was previously a contestant in the same competition in 2023 and says she faced a lot of criticism online about her body, but this year she is stronger to deal with it. This, next to his grandmother.
However, Iris is not the first Miss over 50 to apply the new rule in 2024. Last week, Filipina Jocelyn Cubales, 69, became the pioneer of this opening when she was announced as one of the official stage contestants from Quezon City for Miss Universe Philippines. The final of the Asian competition, considered one of the largest and most important national beauty pageants in the world, will take place on January 31st.
It is worth remembering that the news of the change in the Miss Universe rules came in a context unprecedented for the brand, which has never been closer to the themes of diversity and inclusion. The main reason for this disruption was the purchase of the competition almost two years ago by Thai businesswoman Anne Jakrajutatip, a transgender woman.
In fact, the last edition of Miss Universe last November was considered the most “plural” as there were one plussize model (Miss Nepal) and one plussize model among the contestants, in addition to two transgender women (Portugal and the Netherlands). two mothers (missing Colombia and Guatemala). The current winner of Miss Universe is Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios, 23 years old.