An 81-year-old South Korean fashion model fell short in her bid to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant.

A 60-year-old Argentine woman has watched her dreams to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.

R’Bonney Gabriel, a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor from Texas, has been crowned Miss Universe.

Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned the 70th Miss Universe, topping a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic.

Organizers of the Miss Universe pageant say a contestant tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Israel.

The reigning Miss Universe says the long-running beauty pageant being held in Israel next month shouldn’t be politicized.

Andrea Meza of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe.

FILE - Catriona Gray of the Philippines, left, reacts as she is crowned the new Miss Universe 2018 by Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during the final round of the 67th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 17, 2018. After a year and a half, the Miss Universe competition will return with a live telecast on May 16. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File)NEW YORK – After a year and a half, the Miss Universe competition will return with a live telecast on May 16. The last Miss Universe pageant was in December 2019 and its winner, Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, has worn the crown longer than anyone else. The Miss Universe competition will air in more than 160 territories and countries across the globe.

FILE - Catriona Gray of the Philippines, left, reacts as she is crowned the new Miss Universe 2018 by Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during the final round of the 67th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 17, 2018. After a year and a half, the Miss Universe competition will return with a live telecast on May 16. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File)NEW YORK – After a year and a half, the Miss Universe competition will return with a live telecast on May 16. The last Miss Universe pageant was in December 2019 and its winner, Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, has worn the crown longer than anyone else. The Miss Universe competition will air in more than 160 territories and countries across the globe.