TEXAS, June 23: Marissa Teijo, hailing from El Paso, is poised to create history as she becomes the oldest participant ever to grace the stage of the Miss Texas USA pageant at 71 years old.

The highly anticipated event, scheduled for this weekend in Houston, will witness Teijo and nearly 100 other contestants competing for the coveted opportunity to represent Texas in the upcoming Miss USA competition slated for August, as per reports from NBC News.

Expressing her excitement, Teijo took to Instagram, sharing her joy about embarking on this remarkable journey 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," she added.

Teijo's background is as intriguing as her journey to the pageant. Raised on a farm, she cultivated a passion for fitness from a young age, actively participating in various athletic endeavors before transitioning to the world of beauty pageants.

A recent policy amendment by the Miss Universe organization paved the way for Teijo's participation this year, allowing all women over 18, including those who are pregnant, married, or divorced, to compete.

However, the organization has found itself embroiled in controversy since May, following the sudden resignations of Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt, and Miss Teen USA 2023 Uma Sofia Srivastava. Both former titleholders accused the organizers of fostering a culture of abuse and bullying.

In her resignation missive, Voigt decried the organization as a "toxic work environment," attributing her departure to what she characterized as "poor management" and, potentially, "bullying and harassment."