Who is Marissa Teijo? Texas woman, 71, makes history as oldest Miss Texas USA contestant

Marissa Teijo did not win the contest, but she impressed thousands with her talent in the pageant this weekend in Houston.

Published on: Jun 25, 2024, 23:54:52 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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This year, a 71-year-old woman made history as the oldest contestant to have ever competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant. Marissa Teijo did not win the contest, but she impressed thousands with her talent in the pageant this weekend in Houston.

Marissa Teijo, 71, makes history as oldest Miss Texas USA contestant (marissateijo/Instagram)

Aarieanna Ware took the crown home after being named Miss Texas USA on Saturday, June 22. She was last year's Miss Dallas winner, and is now set to represent Texas in the Miss USA competition.

The Miss Universe organisation recently removed age limits for contestants over 18 to be more inclusive. It also allowed women who are married, divorced or pregnant to participate. “I feel that all women now have a new stage of opportunity, strength and beauty,” Teijo reportedly said.

Who is Marissa Teijo?

Teijo was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She said before the competition that she was excited to help Texans and El Pasoans break barriers and make a difference in their fields of interest, no matter what their age is.

According to Eccandc.org, Teijo was born on July 8, 1952. She grew up on a farm, and very early in life realised she had a passion for fitness, as per KVIA. She has competed in various contests, including the National Physique Committee event.

Teijo had earned 114 votes on the Miss USA site. In a previous Instagram post, she wrote, “I am delighted to be a part of this incredible new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant. In doing so, I hope to inspire women to strive to be their best physical and mental self and believe there is beauty at any age.”

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A post shared by Marissa Teijo (@marissateijo)

Jackie Garcia-Martinez, CEO of Bazaar Models, who represents Teijo, said that the agency is very proud to represent diverse women. “I represent women of all shapes, ages, and races. As I prepare my team to compete at Miss Texas, I’m thrilled to support these women who inspire me as a leader every day,” she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More