MANILA: the latest skip Universe, back in the Philippines after an epic televised blunder surrounding her crowning, said Sunday she would utilize the attention the event interested in campaign for HIV understanding, particularly in the woman home country.
In front of approximately one billion tv visitors worldwide last December, pageant host Steve Harvey erroneously revealed skip Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, as Miss Universe before fixing himself minutes later.
The diamond and sapphire top was taken from the head of a sobbing and humiliated Gutierrez and transferred to Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach associated with Philippines.
Wurtzbach, speaking-to reporters about her plans, said she’d go through a “public evaluating” for HIV whenever she returns into United States where in fact the skip Universe company is based, to erase the stigma surrounding the disease.
“It’s about time somebody like me should step-up and ideally other individuals would follow match as well,” Wurtzbach, 26, told AFP.
“i do believe inside Philippines, there’s a bit of a stigma because we’re a conservative nation.”
The Philippines reported a 22 per cent escalation in HIV infections year-on-year in September a year ago. Four in ten associated with brand-new situations had been reported in money Manila.
The world of 100 million people, on whom 80 % are Catholic, is greatly affected by the church which frowns on contraceptive usage. Testing for HIV can also be considered taboo.
Into the hardly any minutes she stood behind the Las vegas, nevada stage at the conclusion of the pageant, Wurtzbach stated she accepted being first runner-up as a large audience of dissatisfied but proud followers into the audience waved Filipino flags.
“we informed myself, we dropped short, exactly what a waste. Nonetheless it’s fine. Used to do every little thing i really could and also the most significant thing is everybody is pleased with me personally,” she said.
Which was until Harvey admitted his unprecedented gaffe.
“I happened to be therefore happy. I became therefore excited. I really couldn’t explain it. It was one thing the Philippines has-been awaiting for a long time.”
Wurtzbach said she stood by her declaration through the pageant’s interview concern, that Filipinos welcomed the return of US soldiers for their former bases in the Philippines.
“The People in america have been our buddy, we’ve always worked with all of them…; I don’t believe there’s anything incorrect with asking for help whenever we want it,” she said.
Beauty pageants like skip Universe have cult followings within the Philippines and previous titleholders go on to financially rewarding jobs in flicks and modelling.
It was the Philippines’ first title in 42 years therefore the 3rd considering that the pageant started in the 1950s.
Her one-week lengthy homecoming itinerary includes a grand parade around Manila on Monday, courtesy phone calls on President Benigno Aquino and both houses of parliament and a concert at one of several capital’s biggest indoor stadiums.
Wurtzbach had been modelling since she was 11 and played bit roles in films and tv, but the woman enjoyment career never ever hit the big-league until she won Miss Universe. She destroyed when you look at the neighborhood competition two times before earning the ability to represent her nation within the pageant.
The Filipina-German, with her smouldering gaze, stated she dreams to become an “Bond Girl” in the future 007 movies.
Wurtzbach, who’s rumoured to possess dated the 55-year-old Aquino, said she’d stay solitary to concentrate on her behalf duties as Miss Universe and go after the woman Hollywood fantasy.
“This is my boyfriend for the time being,” a beaming Wurtzbach said, as she clutched the porcupine-shaped crown on her behalf mind.
