Gorea Iraida

About

Iraida Gorea Cojocaru, a remarkable woman from the village of Ulmu, Ialoveni district, Republic of Moldova, won the international title "Mrs. Universe Grandma" in 2019 at a competition organized in Sofia, Bulgaria, dedicated to grandmothers aged between 43 and 83. At 52 years old, she impressed the jury with her beauty, grace, and talent, competing alongside 23 participants from five continents. She shone in the rounds of Moldovan national costume, evening wear, and an energetic oriental dance, demonstrating that beauty has no age and promoting the image of the modern and confident Moldovan woman. Her life is marked by an impressive story of resilience: raised with seven sisters in a school boarding house, she was left alone with three young children after her husband left, and later battled cancer for two years, overcoming it with determination. Now a grandmother to six grandchildren, including a newborn who allowed her to participate in the competition, Iraida has transformed her house in Ulmu into a shelter for 30 abandoned dogs and eight cats, reflecting a generous heart dedicated to animals. Her success has attracted the attention of the Moldovan press and television, where she shared her experience as an example of female strength. Engaged in promoting a sustainable lifestyle, Iraida has given up plastic bags and sews eco-friendly fabric tote bags, considering ecology a daily responsibility for a better future for the planet. "An eco-friendly lifestyle is not a trend, but a call to action for everyone," she declares, inspiring other women, especially grandmothers, to be confident and active. As a model and representative of Moldova on the international stage, she continues to promote values such as tolerance, work, and family love, remaining a symbol of authentic beauty and social involvement in the Republic of Moldova.