By Hyun Kyung Oh (2024 Mrs. Korea Classic Queen)

"Challenging a beauty pageant at that age?"

When I first announced my decision to compete in the Mrs. Korea pageant, the glances from those around me were far from encouraging. At forty-five, my age seemed to suggest it was far too late to embark on something entirely new. Yet, I held onto a steadfast belief: if one runs toward their dreams instead of blaming their circumstances, passion never betrays you.

Truthfully, I did not begin with any extraordinary talent or affluent circumstances. Possessing a hearty appetite, I have a constitution that gains weight the moment I lower my guard. Due to the nature of my long-time workplace, I spent years trapped in a cycle of late-night snacking and failed diets, even suffering from acid reflux. My skin, too, was plagued by extreme, severe dryness.

Yet, after countless trials and errors, I discovered a 'miraculous morning routine' that transformed me and ultimately orchestrated the miracle of winning three crowns on the global stage. I wish to share that secret with you today. It requires no extravagant expenses. If you possess nothing but a heart that loves oneself and a sense of 'consistency,' these are small habits you can initiate starting tomorrow morning.

#. Overnight Sheet Masks Are Poison; Morning Sheet Masks Are Medicine

To be entirely candid, I have never once received common dermatological procedures like Botox or fillers. Rather, I was born with exceptionally thin, fragile skin and an intensely dry constitution—a skin type that easily deteriorates if neglected even slightly. The core of my skincare regimen, which allowed me to stand out distinctively on global pageant stages without clinical interventions, is this: 'a cold morning sheet mask, never missed for a single day over the past 18 years.'

Most people tend to apply sheet masks at night before falling asleep. They usually counter, "I am dying of busyness just trying to get to work in the morning; where on earth would I find the time to do a mask?" However, I believe precisely the opposite. Morning is the absolute prime time for a mask. While we sleep, our skin temperature naturally rises and our pores loosen and open. Lowering this skin temperature and closing those open pores the moment you wake up is the absolute linchpin of elasticity management.

Furthermore, if you apply a mask at night, it is easy to drift off to sleep inadvertently due to fatigue. Once a sheet mask dries bone-dry upon your face, it reverses its effects by robbing your skin of its inherent moisture, yielding a counterproductive result worse than doing nothing at all. Conversely, the morning allows you to peel the mask off completely while it is at its most hydrated state, making it flawless for moisture replenishment.

#. The Bustling Morning: The '10-Second Direct Routine' by Hyun Kyung Oh

For those who still protest, "But every single minute and second is precious in the morning," I shall unveil my '10-second morning routine.'

First, the moment I open my eyes, I march straight to the bathroom. To wash away the dust that settled on my skin overnight, I rinse lightly with water just twice, then casually dab away the moisture with a towel. The key point here is to roughly wipe only the chin area where water might drip; this prevents the skin from drying out while you go to retrieve the mask. Following that exact path, I pull a cold mask from the refrigerator and slap it onto my face. It takes exactly '10 seconds' to reach this point.

By investing mere 10 seconds out of 24 hours to rest a mask upon your face, the rest of the morning ceases to be frantic. With the mask attached, you can comfortably drink warm water, check the messages that arrived overnight, select your outfit for the day, or enjoy breakfast. When eating, you simply need to fold the mask slightly upward around the mouth.

However, when selecting a morning mask, you must choose a lightweight, non-sticky moisture type rather than an overly nutritious, rich variety so that your makeup does not cake or slip. On days when time is truly scarce, leave it on for just 5 minutes to drop your skin temperature. Do not discard the mask peeled off after 5 minutes; place it in a ziplock bag, store it in the refrigerator, and recycle it once more the following morning.

#. Because If You Do Not Challenge Yourself, Nothing Happens

Skincare may feel bothersome at first, but if you endure for just a single week, you will personally perceive skin that has transformed visibly. The moment you experience that change, the nuisance vanishes, and before you know it, you find yourself enjoying it like a ritual.

It has been barely two years since I began my career as a model. If I had prematurely surrendered and refused to challenge myself at the age of forty-five, whispering that it was "too late," I would still be drifting within a mundane, ordinary routine today. There is no such thing as a late age. In this era of the 100-year lifespan, those in their 50s and 60s are in a dazzling youth, absolutely never too late to begin anew.

What I realized while challenging myself on numerous beauty pageants and fashion show runways is the profound fact that even if you do not grasp the first-place trophy, the very process of the challenge raises your self-esteem as you nurture and cultivate yourself. When we discover a confident self that has evolved compared to yesterday—without comparing ourselves to others—we truly learn to love ourselves deeper.

My dear readers, why not open the refrigerator door with me tomorrow morning? A 'magical 10 seconds' to encounter the 'real you' who will walk proudly toward your dreams is waiting for you.

Translated by HOON GOO LEE Managing Editor