Pia Wurtzbach

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Pia Wurtzbach
Beauty pageant titleholder
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach in Philippine Terno.jpg
Wearing a Filipina Maria Clara terno during Binibining Pilipinas 2015.
Born Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
(1989-09-24) September 24, 1989 (age 35)
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Hometown Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
Occupation Beauty queen, actress, model
Years active 1994–present
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Measurements 34-23-35
Hair color Brown
Eye color Brown
Title(s) Miss Universe Philippines 2015
Miss Universe 2015
Major
competition(s)
Binibining Pilipinas 2013
(1st Runner-up)
Binibining Pilipinas 2014
(Top 15)
Binibining Pilipinas 2015
(Winner- Miss Universe Philippines 2015)
Miss Universe 2015
(Winner)

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach[2] (born September 24, 1989),[3] once professionally known as Pia Romero,[4][5][6] is a Filipino-German actress, TV Host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2015 on December 20, 2015 after becoming Miss Universe Philippines 2015 at the Binibining Pilipinas 2015 pageant on March 15, 2015.[7][8]

Early life and background

Wurtzbach was born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, in then West Germany, to a German father and Filipino mother. Her middle name of "Alonzo" is her mother's maiden name which is a naming practice in the Philippines and based upon Spanish naming customs. From Iligan City, she later moved to Cagayan de Oro City[9] in the country's Northern Mindanao region where she attended kindergarten at Kong Hua School and primary school at Corpus Christi.[10] Her parents separated when she was 11 years old and she became the family's main money-earner until the age of 18 by doing modeling and acting.[6] After being raised in the Philippines, she spent several years in England.[11] She finished her secondary education at ABS-CBN Distance Learning School in Quezon City, Metro Manila and studied culinary arts at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies in San Juan, Metro Manila.[12][13][14]

Acting career

Wurtzbach is a professional model, actress, host and TV personality. She began acting at age four under the stage name Pia Romero. Managed by ABS-CBN's theatrical agency, Star Magic, she was included on the Star Circle Batch 11. Among her TV credits are the teen-oriented series K2BU, the concert variety program ASAP, the romance anthology Your Song, the sitcom show Bora, and the drama series Sa Piling Mo.[14][15][16][17] She appeared in films such as Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (2003), All My Life (2004), and All About Love (2006).[15] She went on to become a stylist, makeup artist and beauty writer for Philippine Daily Inquirer's 2bU section.[12][18]

Wurtzbach speaks fluent Cebuano, English and Tagalog.[19] She also speaks basic German, describing it as "Enough to get myself a bratwurst".[20][21]

Pageantry

Binibining Pilipinas

Wurtzbach joined the Binibining Pilipinas Pageant three times before winning the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title. During Binibining Pilipinas 2013, she was named as the first Runner-up because she took fifth place.[22] She joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2014, but only placed in the top 15.[23] A controversy erupted when she failed to win any title following her question-and-answer portion.[11] She was asked a question in Tagalog by a Filipino judge, Senator Sonny Angara, which she answered in Tagalog.[11] Online commentators wondered if the question and answer in Tagalog cost her points from the international judges and, therefore, any title that year.[11] On her third attempt for the title in 2015, she won the highest title, Miss Universe Philippines, and went on to compete in the Miss Universe 2015 Pageant.[24]

Miss Universe 2015

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Wurtzbach represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2015 held on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. At the end of the show, host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner. However, after Gutiérrez's crowning, Harvey returned to the stage and stated that he had misread the results and that Wurtzbach was really Miss Universe 2015. Paulina Vega (Miss Universe 2014) then removed the crown from Gutiérrez's head and placed it on Wurtzbach's head.[25]

During the first question and answer round, Wurtzbach was asked by host Steve Harvey: "Earlier this year, there was a controversy in the Philippines about the United States reopening of military base in your country. Do you think the United States should have a military presence in your country?", Wurtzbach answered:

I think that the United States and the Philippines have always had a good relationship with each other. We were colonized by the Americans and we have their culture in our traditions even up to this day and I think that we're very welcoming with the Americans. And I don't see any problem with that at all.[26]

In the final question and answer portion, the top three contestants were asked the same question by Harvey: "Why should you be the next Miss Universe?" and she replied:

To be a Miss Universe is both an honor and responsibility. If I were to be Miss Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth, and I would raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that is timely and relevant to my country which is the Philippines. I want to show the world, the universe rather, that I am confidently beautiful with a heart. Thank you.[26]

Wurtzbach is the third Miss Universe from the Philippines after Gloria Diaz in 1969, and Margarita Moran in 1973.[27][28][29]

File:WurtzbachMets.jpg
Wurtzbach before throwing out a first pitch for the Mets.

On January 21, 2016, she traveled to Bali, Indonesia to shoot a commercial for C 1000, a vitamin brand available in Indonesia.[30] Two days later, on January 23, 2016, she arrived in the Philippines for a week-long homecoming celebration with visits to the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay and Quezon City. She also had courtesy calls to the Congress of the Philippines, Senate of the Philippines and Malacañang Palace.[31][32]

On February 1, 2016, she arrived in San Francisco to fulfill her duties as Inside Edition's special correspondent for Super Bowl 50.[33][34] While in San Francisco, she was also reunited with Janine Tugonon, Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up from the Philippines.[35]

On February 28, 2016, she travelled to Toronto, Canada to deliver a speech against bullying at the Speakers Forum for the International Students of the Language Academy of Canada wherein she shared some of her childhood experiences as a victim of bullying. During her stay in Canada, she was reunited with Miss Universe Canada 2015, Paola Nunez Valdez. She also met and gave some advice to the contestants of Miss Universe Canada 2016.[36][37][38][39]

On March 25, 2016, Wurtzbach returned to the Philippines for an unannounced visit to take care of some personal things including renewing her Philippine passport, charity works and film a new commercial for Philippine Airlines.[40][41][42][43] She also met and gave advice to the candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2016 during their press presentation.[44][45][46] On April 12, 2016 she came back to the Philippines for the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 pageant[47] and on April 17 crowned her successor Maxine Medina as Miss Universe Philippines 2016 during the coronation night.[48] During the pageant she was reunited with Miss Myanmar 2015, May Barani Thaw and Miss Malaysia 2015, Vanessa Tevi while Miss Universe 2015 2nd runner-up Olivia Jordan served as a judge.[49] Wurtzbach's farewell speech and walk at Binibining Pilipinas 2016 as Miss Universe Philippines 2015, trended at social media with enormous hits.[50]

On April 21, 2016, Wurtzbach arrived in Peru to attend Miss Peru 2016 pageant where she served as a judge.[51][52] She also had a press conference a day before the pageant and was greeted by the Lima City Mayor, Luis Castaneda and received an honor of being "The Distinguished Guest of Lima".[53] Wurtzbach along with Miss Peru 2015, Laura Spoya crowned Valeria Piazza, Miss Peru 2016.[54]

On April 27, 2016, Wurtzbach threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the New York Mets.[55]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Network
2002 K2BU[56] Jewel ABS-CBN
2002–2011 ASAP Herself/Performer
2003–2004 It Might Be You Allison/Mary Lou
2005–2006 Bora: Sons of the Beach Pia
2006 Sa Piling Mo Julia
2011 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Stroller Elaine
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Birth Certificate Michelle
2012 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Komiks Marilou
Aryana Dikya/Jelay
Third Eye: Sirena sa Breakwater Sari TV5
2016 5th Annual NFL Honors Presenter CBS
2016 Super Bowl 50 Inside Edition Special Correspondent

Films

Year Title Role Producer Note/s
2003 Kung Ako Na Lang Sana young Chari Star Cinema credited as Pia Romero
2004 All My Life Sarah
2006 All About Love Carmi

References

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  7. Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach Crowned Winner of Miss Universe 2015, zeibiz.com; retrieved December 21, 2015.
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  10. Philippines Sunstar website; accessed December 23, 2015.
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External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Universe
2015
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Miss Universe Philippines
2015
Succeeded by
Maxine Medina