PH hungry for Miss Universe crown

IT HAS BEEN 42 years since the Philippines last won the Miss Universe title, and nobody is as “hungry” for the coveted crown as Pia Wurtzbach, who joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant for three consecutive years before finally earning the right to represent the country in the most anticipated beauty event of the year.

The Philippines last bagged the Miss Universe title in 1973 when Margie Moran emerged victorious in Athens, Greece, four years after Gloria Diaz became the first Filipino woman to bag the crown.

The Filipino-German Wurtzbach appeared unfazed by the immense pressure, which has been consistently growing because of the country’s strong showing in other beauty tilts in the last five years.

“Some people are saying I’m too ‘trying hard’—and it’s true, because this is what I really want,” the 26-year-old beauty said during her sendoff press conference at the Novotel Manila in Quezon City last month.

“I don’t care if it looks like I’m doing this for a show biz comeback, or if I appear desperate. If that were the case, I should’ve stopped after my first try. But I pursued it because this is what I want,” added the former actress from Cagayan de Oro.

MISS Universe Philippines Pia Wurtzbach (right) and Binibining Pilipinas 2015 Intercontinental Christi Lynn McGarry during the send-off of Binibining Pilipinas representatives RAFFY LERMA

Wurtzbach’s first shot at the crown was impressive, with a first runner-up finish as a rookie contestant, trumping more experienced aspirants.
But her second attempt wasn’t as remarkable. Wurtzbach may have taken home a slew of special citations, but only made it to the semifinals.

Unperturbed, Wurtzbach brushed the dust off and set out to compete for the third time—and successfully bagged the crown she was aspiring for!

Ann Colis, 2015 Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism, who became the first Filipino woman to win the Miss Globe title in Canada in October, gave her encouraging words: “Your dedication is unmatched. You may have a lot of bashers, but you deserve the crown!”

Wurtzbach is up against 79 other delegates. The coronation ceremonies will take place at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Dec. 20. (Dec. 21 in Manila).

McGarry makes history

Meanwhile, another Binibining Pilipinas queen, Christi Lynn McGarry, has already made history in the 2015 Miss Intercontinental pageant even before its culmination.

She is the first contestant to join that global tilt twice, representing the same country.

McGarry was sent to the 2010 Miss Intercontinental pageant in the Dominican Republic by the Mutya ng Pilipinas Inc.

“This time around, I am representing the Philippines through the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc.,” she explained.

This is also not McGarry’s first time to be in Germany. She went there to represent the Philippines in the Top Model of the World contest, also in 2010. She cracked the semifinals in both global tilts.

She faces 65 other delegates in the 2015 Miss Intercontinental pageant today (Dec. 19 in Manila).