Pia Wurtzbach hurdles unexpected twists and turns to win third Miss Universe crown for PH

FORTY-TWO years of waiting for one of their own to be crowned Miss Universe weren’t enough, as pageant-crazy Filipinos had to wait a few seconds more before American host Steve Harvey corrected his mistake: Miss Universe 2015 wasn’t Ariadna Gutierrez-Arevalo as he earlier announced, but 26-year-old German-Filipino beauty queen Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach.

“It was my fault,” Harvey kept telling a global TV audience and those who paid to watch the show at Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas, venue of this year’s contest.

This year’s edition, under new owners IMG, a New York-based events and talent management company, which bought the 64-year-old beauty pageant from billionaire businessman and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, proceeded without a hitch until Harvey announced the names of the winner and first runner-up.

Miss USA Olivia Jordan, who, like Wurtzbach, was an online and crowd favorite, clinched second runner-up.

“Since Steve was new at hosting Miss Universe, I think he was confused,” said Manila-based publicists and events planner Albert Almendralejo, who witnessed the entire show up close. “I heard that he was told by the Miss Universe staff to announce Miss Colombia’s name first before Pia’s. He did do that, but he unwittingly managed to interchange their positions.”

After realizing his mistake, Harvey had to correct himself to the shock of both Arevalo, who was already wearing the crown and waving a small Colombia flag, and Wurtzbach, who was already in the sidelines with Jordan and the other delegates. He even waved the written results to the audience to convince them.

With some prodding from Jordan, a reluctant Wurtzbach walked to the center of the stage. It probably took awhile for the Spanish-speaking Arevalo to realize what was happening, said Almendralejo, since she just stood stoically with “her chin up.”

Boos and jeers from the Latino audience were countered by cheers from Wurtzbach’s Filipino supporters, who dominated the venue.

It took Arevalo’s compatriot Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega to break the impasse by gently removing the crown from the first runner-up’s head and putting it on Wurztbach’s.

“Not everything was captured on TV,” said Almendralejo. “A crying Miss Colombia run to her fellow Latinas, while a somewhat dazed Pia received support and profuse congratulations from Miss USA and most of the delegates from Asia and Europe.”

“I want to apologize emphatically to Miss Philippians (sic) and Miss Columbia (sic),” Harvey later said on Twitter. “This was an honest human mistake. I am so regretful.”

Instead of the usual ten to 12 judges, only four celebrity judges, including Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, determined the results this year. For the first time in the pageant’s history, organizers allowed online voting to constitute 20 percent of a contestant’s overall score in each event. There were four events: swimsuit, evening gown, and two sets of question and answer.

From Top 15 contestants, the results of last week’s preliminaries, the number of girls was whittled down to 10, then five and finally three. When the combined online votes were counted, Wurtzbach emerged on top.

Each contestant in the Top 5 answered a question relating to current issues in her country. Wurtzbach was asked about her views on the presence of American troops in the Philippines.

Filipinos and Americans, she said, have had a long history and “special relations.” As a “colonized” people, Filipinos are generally welcoming of Americans. She didn’t see it as a “problem.”

For the second set of question and answer, the Top 3 were each asked the same question: Asked why she wants to become Miss Universe, Wurztbach gave a short and straight answer about the importance of having a global platform to pursue her advocacy of AIDS and HIV awareness. Being Miss Universe, she said, is about being “confidently beautiful with a heart.”

Another twist awaited the Top 3 as Harvey told them that their fellow delegates would also weigh in on the final outcome. For the first time in years, the Philippine delegate was wearing a gown designed by a Filipino–Albert Andrada. Pageant observers believed that the blue silk gazaar serpentina gown was instrumental in boosting Wurtzbach’s chances in the finals.

Wurtzbach follows in the footsteps of Margarita Moran, the second Filipina to win Miss Universe in 1973. Moran won the titled four years after Gloria Diaz first brought home the crown to the Philippines.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Megan Young tells what it takes to win Miss World title

MANILA, Philippines—The next Miss World should be “genuine.”

Reigning Miss World Megan Young made known her preference for her successor in an interview posted on the Miss World website.

“I hope that the next Miss World, whoever she is, is genuine. It is a competition but her authenticity is what will win the judges over and carry her throughout her reign,” Young said.

She said being a Miss World title holder is not all about beauty and glamor.

“A lot of it is really behind the scenes and about getting your feet dirty without your heels and without the make-up,” she said.

The 24-year old beauty queen also emphasized patience.

“My advice is to be patient. In this job, patience is a virtue. Also, it is important to always be understanding and nice to everyone you meet. Kindness and compassion will take you a long way,” she said.

On her part, she admitted that she was “at first afraid” when she was crowned the title.

“I thought that I was not going to be able to see my family, as the job of a Miss World is non-stop humanitarian work, and that was something I didn’t know how to come to terms with,” she said.

 

But she said she was thankful that between travelling around the world and seeing new things, she was able to return home and visit her family.

“That was really helpful as it kept me levelheaded and sane throughout my year,” she said.

She thanked the Filipinos for their support throughout her reign and even before she was crowned as the first ever Miss World from the Philippines.

“The reaction from my country and the support I received was completely out of this world and beyond my wildest imaginations.”

But as she makes her final walk as a Miss world on Monday, December 15, (Philippine Time), she said her reign was full of worthwhile memories.

She said helping in the relief operations after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” devastated the Philippines was one of the highlights of her reign as Miss World.

“I was able to help out my countrymen in ways I never thought possible, because of my Miss World title,” she said.

“I could connect to so many people and inspire and encourage help on such a wide scale and that was a true highlight of my year,” she added.

She said she is excited to host the coronation night in London since she is the first reigning title holder to do the job.

She said it is not her first time to be a presenter of a major event, but she remembered that before being given the opportunity to host Miss World, she wanted to host Miss Philippines or a local show.

“Hosting Miss World, which is watched by billions of people worldwide, is something that I never expected and totally blows my mind away when I think about it,” she said.

“I am the first reigning title holder to be hosting the show so whenever history is being made there certainly is pressure,” she added.

According to her, she hopes that in five years she would be able to do “something big internationally.”

“I love to win an acting award. You have to dream big and have that goal so you can work hard for it,” she said.

The Miss World 2014 will be held at the ICC Auditorium in London on December 15 (Philippine time).

source: entertainment.inquirer.net