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Friday, March 29, 2024

Miss Universe 2015 Miss Philippines’ dramatic win

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She can finally scream “Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Philippines, Miss Universe 2015! 

In one of the most shocking and dramatic ends to the world’s most watched Miss Universe pageant finals, Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, was announced the winner and Miss Philippines as first runner up. Some four minutes later, Steve Harvey, the host, corrected himself after apologizing for a terrible mistake and read out Miss Philippines as Miss Universe 2015. The crowd burst in a thunderous and deafening cheers at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Sunday night (morning in Manila).

Pia Wurtzbach, visibly stunned, missed and was robbed of her once in a lifetime winning moment for about five minutes. In her electric blue Albert Andrada gown accepted the flowers, sash and crown later from Paulina Vega. Miss Universe 2014, visibly disappointed, could not do anything but give the crown and sash to the 64th winner of Miss Universe. 

Host Steve Harvey quickly apologized and urged the audience not to hold it against the ladies as he took full responsibility for the mix up and horrible mistake in reading out the wrong name on the card.  Contestants were seen crowding around Gutierrez to comfort her while others swarmed to greet Wurtzbach as the live show was cut without her victory walk.

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Wurtzbach,who described herself a “Bond Girl in-the-making,” looked elegant in her Andrada creation. She was the first in the Top 5 Q&A portion to answer the question and it was about the United States military presence in her country. She said,  “I think that the US and the Philippines have a good relationship with each other. We’ve been colonized by the Americans and we have their culture in our traditions. Also were are very welcoming with the Americans and I don’t see any problem with that at all.” Host Harvey joked about how well Wurtzback nailed that answer.

 After being called in the Top 3 with Gutierrez and Miss USA Olivia Jordan, Wurtzbach was asked what she thought it takes to be Miss Universe. Her answer: “I will use my voice to raise awareness to causes like awareness of HIV, especially, in the Philippines,” and she wanted to show the world that as Miss Universe she is “confidently beautiful with a heart.” Miss USA, whose answer was “to empower women all over the world and inspire people to believe in themselves” was the second runner up.

The Miss Universe Organisation and Fox got in the judging panel Emmy Award-nominated actress Niecy Nash, celebrity entertainment mogul Perez Hilton, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and football legend Emmitt Smith. Together with Harvey for live reporting was Roselyn Sanchez with performers Seal, The Band Perry and Charlie Puth. This year’s Miss Universe decided to take the fans worldwide to have a say in who gets crowned as Miss Universe. Fans were allowed to vote on each category and help decide who would walk away with the coveted crown. Harvey announced Wurtzbach to have garnered the most number of votes, proving Filipino fans gave her massive support.

Hollywood Filipino fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, who’s creations have graced the red carpets of Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammy and Emmys, was in the nick of time providing Wurtzbach a gown direct from his Beverly Hills boutique when the original gown did not arrive on time. Wurztbach chose from Tolentino’s selection a red mermaid gown embellished with red Swarovski crystals, which she amazingly wore during the all important preliminary competitions where the top 15 were selected. Tolentino said that he wanted to help the Philippines to win the Miss Universe crown. Wurtzbach also wore the national costume by Albert Andrada, a fully beaded and embroidered ecru terno with tiered hemline and traditional panuelo.

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines 2015 is crowned the winner at the conclusion of The 2015 MISS UNIVERSE® in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino  telecast worldwide on FOX Sunday, Dec. 20 (Monday morning in Manila) Photos courtesy of Miss Universe Organisation photographer Darren Decker

 While the Philippines is considered among the heavies at the Miss Universe pageant in the last five years, 2010 to 2014, with Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil, beauty experts were unclear what the new Miss Universe owners, entertainment company WME-IMG, were looking for as winner. NBC Universal and Donald Trump co-owned the Miss Universe Organisation until June this year when Trump sold the Miss Universe Organization, including Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to WME-IMG.

Wurtzbach, a 26-year-old, Culinary Arts graduate, model and former member of ABS CBN Star Magic, broke the country’s 42 long years of waiting to have a Filipino Miss Universe crowned in the new century, becoming the third Filipina to own the title after Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margarita Moran in 1973.

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