People said I’m ‘too old’ for beauty pageants – I refused to give up or be bitter, now I’m the oldest-ever Miss Oklahoma

, the school teacher responded to the haters who told her she was too old to be a beauty queen.

"You are not too old and it is not too late," Sunny told her Instagram followers.

The pageant pro was crowned Miss Oklahoma two weeks before her 28th birthday.

Sunny had previously competed for the title at the age of 25 and thought her dream had ended when she fell short in her final eligible year.

"I stood on the Miss Oklahoma stage for what was supposed to be my first, only, and final time as a 25-year-old woman who had, at the time, hit the age cut-off in the Miss America Organization," she said.

"I felt defeated by the fact that due to my age, I was having to say goodbye to a long-time dream and opportunity of mine," Sunny explained.

However, she was given a second chance at her dream when the organization raised the age limit to 28.

"In February of 2023, I was scrolling on Instagram and eventually came to a life-changing post announcing that the Miss America Organization had increased its age limit," Sunny shared.

Without hesitation, she applied, acknowledging that "opportunities like this are rare."

After success the second time around, Sunny reflected on what it took to get the tiara.

"I am so glad that I didn’t question myself or listen to the voices who told me I was too old," she said.

Sunny explained that she also struggled with self-doubt, and panic about balancing the competition with her work and being out of the game too long.

However, she now credits her "willingness to not give up" as the reason she can "live a life full of gratitude."

"I am honored to be an example and voice for women in a different chapter of their lives and in the workforce," Sunny said.

She encouraged her followers to chase their dreams and to embrace the losses with the wins.

"Winning is great, sure, but if you are going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose," she explained.

"I had all the opportunities in the world to be defeated, to be bitter, and to walk away," Sunny said.

"Instead, I reflected, I grew, I learned, I asked questions, and most importantly, I never gave up because this was something I believed in my heart was meant for me, the timing was just never right," she said.

Now the official Miss Oklahoma, Sunny is using her story to inspire others.

"Your age does not define you, nor does where you came from or your walk of life, only you define you," she told her audience.

"I hope you never give up on your dreams, I am so glad I didn’t," she concluded.