While the nation awaits Pia Wurztbach’s homecoming, the new Miss Universe continued her guest appearances on daytime American radio and TV shows giving her the opportunity to share her life story.
She recently graced the Hot 97 FM program hosted by Ebro Darden with Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg who were mesmerized and enjoyed every bit of their one hour encounter with the gracious and fresh looking Miss Universe wearing an all black, stylish long sleeve outfit.
Pia’s got to relate her growing up years, her family and beauty training as well her feeling on the crowning fiasco, which New Yorkers and celebrities could not seem to get enough of, like in the 2016 People’s Choice and Golden Globes Awards. Pia gained lots of admiration and exposure as a woman who’s refreshing, classy, humble, relatable, eloquent and fun personality.
“I woke up like this. There is no training for make-up,” Pia was kidding the three hosts when asked about her attractive face and make-up. “I enjoy doing my own make up, it’s like an art to me. I was once a contributing writer in the Lifestyle section of a newspaper and I used to write about this stuff. But now I can tone it down a bit since I am no longer competing,” she said.
On the crowning fiasco, Pia was asked on her level of disappointment if she felt slighted or super upset not getting her crowning moment when majority thought that ‘she already got it in the bag (the title), and that she was the one who got screwed up and not Miss Colombia who got tones of fame and exposure as a result of the mess. “I did not feel like I lost anything. I don’t mind Miss Colombia sharing the limelight with me because of what happened. I have the whole year moments ahead of me as Miss Universe.”
When asked how she felt when she stood beside Miss USA Olivia Jordan Pia after the announcement, Pia thought, “Oh so close. I was happy though making it that far with 79 beautiful girls competing from around the world. But seeing the reaction of my countrymen, still proud and cheering me on, I just thought I did not disappoint them, they were happy, and that’s all that matters to me.”
Pia also revealed that she did not see the teleprompter, which said that she (Miss Philippines) was the winner as she was looking at host Steve Harvey all the while. She added that she felt hesitant to go in front of the stage, seeing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez there. “I was happy but could not rejoice all out. I was careful and really concerned for her, because I knew that moment, she was hurting,” Pia related.
Pia was also asked about her being a young breadwinner and the kind of training she underwent as a beauty queen. Pia justified her being a working child, as a model at age 11 and acting at 12, which she said was not uncommon in her country, and that she was never forced to it but enjoyed working to help out her mother and younger sister. Pia added that after her family had settled in England, that’s when she started to devote her time and efforts to win a Miss Philippines title.
Pia also briefed them (the hosts) on the kind of training local beauty queens undergo which she said consisted of walking in high heels, going to the gym at least three times a week, the Q&A with fellow beauty aspirants, doing their homework of reading the newspaper, make-up lessons, as well as passing a background check that includes no sexy photos in men’s magazines.
Pia got a little embarrassed when asked about the exchange of “I heart U” on Instagram with her crush Oscar nominee James Franco. Pia assured them though that since winning, while she has gained a lot of admirers, nobody has ever asked her out on a date. She pointed to the crown on her head as her boyfriend for one whole year. Meaning that when Pia’s reign is over, rumored friend and admirer President Noynoy Aquino is no longer sitting as president.
Absolute class act, words used by controversial Miss Universe 2015 host Steve Harvey to describe Pia when she appeared on the first part of Steve Harvey Show, a two-part special which also featured First runner-up Ariadna Gutierrez. Harvey told Gutierrez that his heart bled for her during the confusion and asked her and Pia for forgiveness so that everyone could move on from the sad experience.