Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the first Miss Universe from the Philippines in more than four decades, said on Sunday (January 24) she will spend her reign raising awareness of issues such as HIV.
Wurtzbach, who spoke at the start of her week-long homecoming tour in Manila, is the third Filipina to become Miss Universe, ending a 42-year title drought for the Southeast Asian nation. She was crowned at a controversial ceremony in December that saw the show host correct himself after first mistakenly announcing Miss Colombia as the winner.
The 26-year old Filipino-German actress was greeted by an adoring crowd at Manila airport on Saturday. Dressed in a black knee-length silk, she engaged with the media on Sunday, answering questions ranging from her pageant experience, failed love life and even the desire to become the first Filipina Bond girl.
Wurtzbach discussed how she plans on starting an HIV awareness campaign by taking an HIV test in public.
“What we’re actually planning to do, I will have myself tested in New York. It will be a public testing, and then, so that I can show everybody how easy it is to do and how important it is, and hopefully many people will follow suit, and I hope that this can help,” she said, commenting on how early detection allows patients to get proper treatment and helps them live normally.
Wurtzbach also defended her answer during the pageant when she told the judges she was in favour of the United States military presence in the Philippines, its former colony.
“I actually stick with my answer, although if some people feel very strongly that they’re against it, I respect their opinion and then if they ever want to talk to me about their stand on it I would gladly listen. I am open to listening to their opinions as well,” she said.
When asked about the well-publicised mix-up during her coronation, Wurtzbach said the controversy could actually have a positive result.
“You know what, I’m using the attention to talk about my causes. Now I have everybody’s attention this is exactly what we want so I throw it out there, and the message is out there and it’s exactly what I want to do. Put more light on the causes that I believe in. That is what I’m doing with what happened,” she said.
Wurtzbach entered the global pageant after three attempts to bag the crown for her country.
Filipina candidates have made the top 10 in Miss Universe pageants for each of the past six years.
