Oldest-ever Miss USA contestant, 72, shares her secrets to keeping fit and healthy as she details her diet, skincare and exercise routines

A female who made history arsenic a septuagenarian contender for nan Miss USA title has shared nan diet, beauty and workout regimens that person kept her title ready.

Marissa Teijo, 72, competed successful Miss Texas USA successful 2024, representing her location territory arsenic Miss Paso del Norte.

While she didn't triumph nan state's title, she still made history arsenic nan oldest personification to compete successful immoderate level of nan Miss USA pageant series. 

Now, she's opened up to People about her strict regimens.

Prior to embarking connected a profession successful pageantry, Marissa was an simple schoolhouse coach for 38 years. 

After retiring to return attraction of her mother, she did ballroom dancing and besides volunteered for her section Junior League, and concisely did substitute school earlier re-retiring for good.

It was astir her 40th day that he began weightlifting for 5 to six days per week, and started competing successful section bodybuilding contests not agelong after.

'I was ever a runner, and I would do measurement aerobics classes,' she told People.

'But erstwhile I started weightlifting, that's erstwhile my assemblage improvement started. 

'Weightlifting will springiness you nan champion shape; it looked for illustration I had a very mini waist, because you summation muscles successful your precocious body, truthful you get that hourglass look.'

She emphasized that she was 'very active' and advised others to support pushing themselves physically arsenic they age. 

'And that's 1 of nan things that I would highly urge to anybody: Just don't stop. Because nary matter really aged you are, you tin still move. And if you support connected moving, you'll beryllium capable to move nan older you get,' she said. 

Her emblematic fare consisted of foods that were 'clean and healthy,' she said. 

'My nutrition is mostly a batch of vegetables and a batch of fruits, oatmeal. I do eat meat. I eat chicken, food each erstwhile successful a while,' she said.

'I emotion steak because my hubby is from Argentina, truthful he loves that.

'I don't eat cheeses. I don't eat processed meats. I do not eat achromatic bread; I only portion non-dairy milk.'

While she was training for nan pageant, she would eat a batch of saccharine murphy pinch jasmine aliases brownish atom and oatmeal connected her training days.

Beyond that, her meals consisted of  'lots and tons of vegetables and fruits' while she besides wholly trim retired foods pinch added sugar. 

For days erstwhile she wasn't readying to deed nan gym, she wouldn't eat immoderate carbs, alternatively focusing connected 'protein, fruits and almonds.'

'I did that for astir 2 and a half months; I don't urge that agelong term,' she clarified. 

As for her skincare regimen, Marissa uses a 'skin therapy oil' successful nan greeting aft washing her face, and past puts connected sunscreen.

She puts connected constitution if she's going out, which besides contains SPF. 

At night, she washes her look pinch a 'gentle cleanser' and past puts connected much lipid and moisturizing cream. 

Reflecting connected competing successful nan pageant, she recalled: 'I sewage truthful galore cheers.'

For now, she's focused connected building her brand on Instagram and beyond, and hopes to get sponsored by gyms and brands utilized by older women. 

She admitted that, while she didn't see herself 'beautiful,' she worked connected 'having assurance successful yourself nary matter really you look aliases what your style is.'

She added: 'Beauty to me, is conscionable being really, really happy. And I deliberation being happy, exuding joyousness and being benignant to people, brings retired power and beauty successful you, truthful group are drawn to you.'