Into the homestretch of her reign as Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach is having the best time of her life and is not about ready to take a break. Fresh from fulfilling her promise and achieving her dream to bring the Miss Universe pageant in Philippine soil and crown her successor before her countrymen, Wurtzbach continued on her world travel binge to carry out her Miss Universe duties, flying from her home in New York, to Panama in October and Dubai in November.
Her first visit to the UAE, home to sandy dunes and the world’s biggest mall, felt like home away from home, not expecting an overwhelming turn-out from hundreds of her ‘kababayan’ OFWs, who were thrilled seeing up-close the Filipina who captivated the world after winning Miss Universe. The 27-year-old, Cagayan de Oro native was visibly touched by the outpouring of love and admiration from her countrymen who greeted her with cheers and screams, some of whom cried after getting a glimpse of her. Others even came to the free lifestyle-fashion event fully-prepared wearing a copied Miss Universe sash.
“Wurtzbach gave tips about fashion and beauty at the event held at Dragon Mart 2 and also spoke on her Miss Universe advocacies to spread awareness on sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS, and the more current issue of cyberbullying. Before leaving the venue, Wurtzbach gamely posed for selfies among the fans, especially children, and talked to them to never give up on their dreams.
Wurtzbach also obliged for an interview with Gulf News Tabloid!, providing 2-cents advice on fashion and beauty. “Sometimes, we think that the more expensive brands are more effective. We only have to stick to the basics and that’s what really matters. Beauty and fashion are a form of expression and it doesn’t have to come with a price tag. It depends on what suits each person,” the make-up beauty specialist said.
Wurtzbach fell in love exploring Dubai’s culture as she toured popular landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve where she experienced her first desert safari. She rode a camel on the desert dunes garbed in a black jumpsuit and hijab and witnessed Dubai’s magnificent sunset.
Wurtzbach has been putting her best foot forward to make the Miss Universe Organization so proud, and more importantly, to make her reign meaningful and relevant even as she reiterated her intention to continue her causes after handing over her crown. Wurtzbach has travelled to Canada, Peru, Ecuador and the Cayman Islands.
“I’ve learned a lot from being Miss Universe, I don’t even know where to begin,” Pia posted. “Just being able to travel a lot and meet people from different walks of life. I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like it or would experience anything like it. It’s really something. When they say a girl’s life is about to change tonight during the pageant, it’s true, because my life really did change that night.”
In New York, Wurtzbach attended the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund charity day as ambassador of Smile Train, one of participating organizations to commemorate the memories of the 658 Cantor employees who perished at the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attack. Smile Train which helps children with untreated clefts to receive their new smile and a second chance at life.
Wurtzbach also stole the thunder during the November 5 Pacquiao-Vargas WBO welterweight bout in Las Vegas cheering for the Filipino boxer and posing for photo with the popular PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and LCS Group of Companies chairman Luis Chavit Singson, the moving force behind the realization of the third staging of the Miss Universe in Manila.
Back at the homefront, Wurtzbach is set to ride the main float during a “Panagbenga” mini event opening the annual Baguio Flower Festival on January 18, 2017, accompanying a group of 24 Miss Universe candidates who will ride on four flower-decorated floats in a street-dancing parade from the Panagbenga Park along South Drive up to the Baguio Country Club compound.
Back at the homefront, Wurtzbach is set to ride the main float during a “Panagbenga” mini event opening the annual Baguio Flower Festival on January 18, 2017, accompanying a group of 24 Miss Universe candidates who will ride on four flower-decorated floats in a street-dancing parade from the Panagbenga Park along South Drive up to the Baguio Country Club compound.
With two months left before she relinquishes her crown, Wurtzbach, who was named “2016 Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire Philippines, tries to make the most out of whatever chance she could get on her blossoming ‘long distance relationship’ with her ‘favorite Swiss’ Marlon Stockinger. The 25-year-old, Stockinger, the first Filipino car racer to have won a formula race in Europe, had tweeted “it would be an ‘awesome Christmas gift’ if they could be a couple by the time the Yuletide season kicks in.” With his best friend actor Matteo Guidicelli’s revelation that the two celebrities are now ‘officially on,’ the Wurtzbach-Stockinger affair could easily end up as 2016’s Hottest Year End story. Words by Eton B. Concepcion / Photos HO/The Miss Universe Organization
Comments
Post a Comment