the modification of its rules to eliminate the age limit in their annual pageant, women worldwide began fantasizing about the idea of becoming the first Miss Universe over 30 years old; among these women is Iris Amelia Alioto, Argentina’s first 72-year-old contestant, and Haidy Cruz, a 47-year-old mother of two, a health coach, and a fitness expert, who is competing to represent the Dominican Republic in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant.
Cruz’s journey to the world stage of beauty pageants is not conventional. Unlike many contestants who began pursuing as teenagers or during their early 20s, Cruz embarked on this path later in life, driven by a passion for empowering women and breaking down barriers.Born and raised in the vibrant culture of the Dominican Republic, Cruz’s upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of identity and resilience.
As a young girl, she was captivated by the grace and poise of beauty pageant contestants, but it wasn’t until later in life that she dared to dream of stepping onto that same stage. “Participating in a beauty pageant always fascinated me.
However, due to becoming a mother at a young age, I was never able to make that dream a reality. Miss Universe, which promotes inclusion, offered me the chance to pursue my dream.
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