Pia Wurtzbach. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach praised the move of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) to remove the age limit for candidates, saying it “opens more doors for women” who want to be an inspiration “regardless of their age.”
In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of her “Queen of the Universe” huddle, Wurtzbach said the MUO’s recent move is a step “in the right direction” as it allows more women to “push for [their] advocacies and causes.”
“I’m very open to the changes happening now. I think it’s something na inexpect natin, na magiging mas inclusive na ang Miss Universe. I think it’s going in the right direction,” she said. “Isipin mo nga naman, ano ba ang Miss Universe (Because if we think about it, what is a Miss Universe)? What is her role really?”
The MUO announced the removal of age limits for candidates beginning on its 2024 edition last September.
The organization’s owner Anne Jakrajutatip also confirmed that the pageant is also opening its doors to “women with children and those who are pregnant, married, or divorced” earlier this year, a move that Wurtzbach lauded and claimed should have been implemented a long time ago.
The former beauty queen pointed out that some of the responsibilities of a Miss Universe includes being a “spokesperson and inspiration,” where an age limit shouldn’t be imposed.
‘WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LIMITATIONS BEFORE?’
WATCH: Pia Wurtzbach believed that the Miss Universe organization’s move to remove the age limit is a step to the “right path” as it “opens more doors for women” to push for their advocacies. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/f3rBKXcDRC
— Hannah Mallorca (@HMallorcaINQ) October 25, 2023
“She is a spokesperson. She is an inspiration. She will be using the platform to push for her advocacies and causes. Kung iisipin mo, may age limit ba ‘yun? Diba wala naman talaga (Should there be an age limit for that? There shouldn’t be any limit at all),” she said. “These are things that should be pushed by women regardless of their age, regardless if they’re married or not, regardless if they’re 5’3 or 6’2.”
Wurtzbach admitted that she can’t help but wonder about the global tilt’s restrictions in the past, as she pointed out that “anyone” can be a spokesperson and a role model. “Bakit nga ba may height requirement? Bakit ba exclusive lang siya sa [biological] women before (Why is there a height requirement? Why was it exclusive to biological women before)? And we always have to go back to our definition of a Miss Universe.”
“If it’s still the same as my time where she is a spokesperson, she has to inspire, she has to push for her causes, she is a role model, then for me, that can be anyone,” she continued. “I’m not opposed to the changes. Actually, tingin ko nga dapat nauna pa ‘yung age more than anything else (I believe that age limits should’ve been lifted a long time ago).
Returning queens
A big smile can be seen on Wurtzbach’s face as she expressed her excitement for the next editions of the global tilt, saying the removal of age limits “opens doors for more women” and “former candidates who are now considering” to return to pageantry.
“This opens the doors for many more women whom they say, ‘nasayang (a waste),’ because they [supposedly] reached their age limit and they decide to start a family,” she said. “So now, the wishlist [for potential beauty queens] is getting longer because now we have the former candidates who are now considering coming back.”
“That makes it more interesting because you see a different dynamic na pwede pala maging inspiration kahit may anak na. Pwede nang maging inspiration kahit above 28 years old na? Bakit ba kasi hanggang 28 lang? Ano bang pinagkaiba nang 28 sa 32?” she further added.
(That makes it more interesting because you see a different dynamic. They can be an inspiration even if they have children. They can be an inspiration even if they’re above 28 years old. Why was the age limit until 28 then? What makes a 28-year-old different from a 32-year-old?)
During the interview, the former beauty queen admitted that she sees her Binibining Pilipinas 2015 batchmates Alaiza Malinao and Christi McGarry returning to pageantry after the MUO removed the age cap.
“Pero baka ma-pressure sila (But they might feel pressured),” Wurtzbach noted, when asked if she sees any former queens making their pageant comeback. “[Alaiza] is very open, she shares a lot about motherhood. She’s a mother of two now. She’s really very Pinay. I can envision it. Sorry Alaiza, if I’m putting you on the spot. But I’m sure I’m not the only one,” she said.
The Miss Universe titleholder also shared that McGarry is a “good friend of hers” who “pivoted her career into hosting, DJ-ing, and modeling,” while praising her other qualities.
Malinao finished at the top 15 at the Binibining Pilipinas 2015, then at the top 16 in Miss Universe Philippines 2020. She also represented the Philippines at the reality show “Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 4” in 2016.
On the other hand, McGarry was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2015, and was named as first runner-up in Miss Intercontinental 2015.
“I think [the lifting of age limits] is so interesting [because we get to] see those who decided to let go of pageants but now the restrictions are off, they decided to try again. Ang ganda ng kwento na ‘yun, ‘yung nagbalik loob (That’s a beautiful story, someone who decided to return to pageantry),” said Wurtzbach.