Wurtzbach won Binibining Pilipinas in 2015 on her third attempt. She then represented the Philippines and won Miss Universe 2015, becoming the first Filipina to win in four decades.
Early life and education
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach[4][5] was born in Stuttgart, Germany, to a German father and a Filipina mother,[6] and has a sister.[7] The family later moved to Northern Mindanao region in the Philippines, first in Iligan city, then settled at Cagayan de Oro city, where she attended kindergarten at Kong Hua School and primary school at Corpus Christi School.[8][9]
Wurtzbach is a professional model, actress, host, and TV personality. She began acting at age four under the stage name Pia Romero.[10][16][17] Managed by ABS-CBN Corporation's talent 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.[18][19][20] She appeared in films such as Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (2003), All My Life (2004), and All About Love (2006).[18] She went on to become a stylist, makeup artist and beauty writer for Philippine Daily Inquirer's 2bU section.[12][21]
Wurtzbach notably won the Miss Universe Philippines title on her third attempt. Prior to this, she first entered the Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2013 where she was the first runner-up. She also won the Miss San Miguel Zero Fit and Sexy Body awards in the same year.[22][23][24][25]
She then entered the Binibining Pilipinas pageant again in 2014 and finished at top 15. Pundits believe that her performance at the question and answer portion of the pageant, where she was asked by judge Senator Sonny Angara in Tagalog, which she also answered in Tagalog, affected her overall performance.[26][11] She won Miss Philippine Airlines and She's So Jag awards.[27][28]
On her third attempt for the title in 2015, she won Miss Universe Philippines, alongside the Miss Cream Silk awards and went on to compete in the Miss Universe 2015 Pageant.[29][30] During the question and answer portion of the pageant she was asked by then-Camarines SurRepresentativeLeni Robredo: "Social media is now a very powerful tool on communication. Can you tell us your thoughts about internet censorship?" She answered:
I think that we should be careful about what we post online, especially our thoughts and our opinions, that we don't hurt anybody, especially selfies, we have to be careful with what we post especially in our bodies, in our faces. So always think before you click.[31]
Wurtzbach represented the Philippines in the 64th Miss Universe pageant, and won on December 20, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.
At the national costume competition, Wurtzbach wore a white capiz terno with a matching fan and headpiece.[34][35] The whole ensemble was designed by Filipino designer, Albert Andrada.[36]
She wore a red sleeveless crepe de chine gown by Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino at the preliminary evening gown competition.[37][38]
At the coronation night, Wurtzbach reached the top 15.[39]
She wore a black and white two-piece bikini at the swimsuit competition and advanced to the top ten.[40] She wore Albert Andrada's figure-hugging, strapless serpentina gown, inspired by the Philippines, "Pearl of the Orient".[41][42] She then advanced to Top 5.[43]
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 a military base in your country. Do you think the United States should have a military presence in your country?" She 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.[44]
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.[44]
A commemorative stamp issued by the Philippine Post Office honoring Wurtzbach
At the end of the contest, 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 the winner. Paulina Vega (Miss Universe 2014) then removed the crown from Gutiérrez's head and placed it on Wurtzbach's head.[45]
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.[53][54][55][56]
On April 27, 2016, Wurtzbach threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the New York Mets.[67] A month later on May 27, 2016, Wurtzbach travelled to Machala, Ecuador to help the victims of the recent earthquake that killed at least 600 people.[68][69] She was welcomed by the mayor of Machala, Carlos Falquez Batallas to the city and was named as an honorary volunteer of the Guayas Red Cross wherein she was invited to participate in the global appeal of raise resources to build 6,000 homes for the earthquake victims.[70] She was also given a chance to meet Connie Jiménez, Miss Ecuador 2016 during her visit.[71]
In June 2016, Wurtzbach represented the Philippines and the Miss Universe Organization at a meeting of the United Nations that aimed at ending AIDS.[72][73]
As Miss Universe, Wurtzbach also visited Indonesia, Ecuador, Cayman Islands, Thailand, Panama, United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.[74]
On January 30, 2017, Wurtzbach stated that she has signed a contract with WME/IMG's IMG Universe division where she will continue to work with the Miss Universe Organization as an HIV/AIDS awareness advocate after her reign.[76]
On January 6, 2020, Wurtzbach had her own OPM song named after her, sung by BLYMNDT that featured Angelo and BRYC, which was a month after Gray's own song was released, coinciding with the latter's birthday on that day.[86]
On April 29, 2024, she was received the Global Fashion Influencer of the Year award at the 2024 EMIGALA Fashion & Beauty Awards in Dubai.[87]
Wurtzbach is an advocate for gender equality.[93] On Instagram, she declared her support for the LGBT community in light of the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016.[94] In 2018, she called on the Philippine Senate to pass the SOGIE Equality Bill.[95] In 2017, Wurtzbach was named a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific.[96]
In 2017, Wurtzbach tweeted that she intended to remain unmarried and childfree.[97] However, in June 2020, she confirmed her relationship with Scottish entrepreneur Jeremy Jauncey.[98] Two years later, they announced their engagement.[99][100] Her marriage on March 24, 2023, was only announced on May 5.[101][102] The venue of their wedding was held in North Island, Seychelles.[103]
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