Marissa Teijo, 71, of El Paso feels like a winner after participating as the oldest contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant, which is a preliminary to Miss USA.

For the first time this year, the Miss Universe Organization removed age limits so that the contestants were more inclusive of those vying for the crown.

Teijo did not win the crown, but she has won the hearts of many women, from young beauty queens to older women who were inspired by her story.

"I thought I could inspire a lot of women to get fit and be healthy so that was my main objective, " she said. "Go in and show Texas that age does not matter if you take care of yourself − and I'm not talking about the face. I'm talking about being fit, having a healthy body, and being strong."

Teijo believes that women should not strive to be skinny but to be healthy and strong. She works out three times a week, lifting weights. She also does cardio by walking her dog up and down her neighborhood's hills and likes to spin other days of the week.

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After competing at the Hilton Houston Park Oak Hotel in Houston on June 22, Teijo is amazed at the support she's received.

"I'm a little overwhelmed by all the attention I'm getting. I didn't really think I would get this kind of attention," she said. "It's overwhelming, but I'm very happy a lot of women are reaching out to me and telling me I've inspired them to start a fitness program."

Teijo also said the pageant experience was thrilling.

"I had so much fun. It was amazing. I enjoyed walking on stage. I did have a lot of energy. I like to have fun still, and the pageant girls were so lovely and so sweet to me and very complimentary. I was very appreciative."

Teijo, a retired elementary school teacher, said she is an El Paso model and has done television commercials. She hopes the pageant may lead to other modeling opportunities.

"I will go back to Bazaar Models (which represents her) to practice my modeling walk, and I hope that I get more modeling jobs with the exposure I've gotten," she said.

Who won Miss Texas USA 2024

Miss Dallas USA, Aarienna Ware, was crowned Miss Texas USA 2024 in a glittering state final on June 22 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel, according to the pageantcircle website.

The 26-year-old sustainable home builder and interior designer was also awarded Best in Swimsuit. She will now prepare to represent Texas at the upcoming Miss USA 2024 pageant in Hollywood, California.

María Cortés González may be reached at [email protected], @EPTMaria on X (formerly Twitter); eptmariacg on TikTok.