SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Almost two weeks after winning the Philippines’ 3rd Miss Universe crown, Pia Wurtzbach recalled the long journey she went through to win the title.
On the Miss Universe Instagram account, Pia wrote: “I know it took me a long time to post this. I needed some time to get settled in; everything was happening so fast. Now everything is sinking in and I’m almost done replying and thanking everyone as much as I can. Okay. Here goes. First of all… Thank you, Lord! The countless times I begged you in tears to please grant me my one big wish! I prayed in every church I went into, in whichever part of the world I was. Wished on every wishing well I passed by and on every falling star I caught in the sky.
“When everything seems unreachable or impossible, you find a way. I trained, and despite all the challenges, everything fell into place and I finally got the crown the whole country has been waiting for, for 42 years. It’s true. Focus on the ordinary and God will take care of the extraordinary. Second, thank you to the amazing team behind me. [Pageant camp] Aces and Queens. I am grateful for all the training I did with you. You were my family away from family. I found my confidence when you found my potential.
“To my family in London, Mama, Papa, Sarah, Charlie, and baby Lara. Thank you for being so supportive in all my decisions. You guys are really the ones I turn to when things get rough. And I’m so grateful that even when you’re far away, I never feel alone.
“And last but definitely not the least, to YOU. Thank you for cheering and rooting for me. Whether you were a die hard supporter at the Axis Theater in Las Vegas or just a silent supporter watching me from TV, thank you. Especially to those who voted for me during the Global Fan Vote. You were all instrumental to my victory. Mga kababayan (Fellow countrymen), when I was walking on stage in that blue gown, wearing the Philippine sash in front of billions of viewers on TV and online, I’ve never been more proud to be a Filipina. I’ll never forget it. It was a proud yet humbling experience. And now as I continue on with my journey as #MissUniverse I hope I inspired you all. Not just my fellow countrymen but all of you. Keep your faith, fight for what you believe in and hold on to your dreams! They do come true! I know I still have much to learn and a huge responsibility ahead of me… So thank you 2015 and bring it on, 2016! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
In another post, Pia shared a photo of herself in London, from when she visited her sister. She wrote that it was during her London visit that she decided to pursue a final shot at Binibining Pilipinas.
“I started my year in London (where my family resides) since I live alone in Manila and at that time I was contemplating on joining Miss Philippines again. Weighing my odds and thinking, ‘Am I ready to put myself at risk again?’ There’s a lot of sacrifices to be made. I had to dedicate yet another year of being away from my family, limiting my work and spending my time on training and preparations instead.
“I was sure that I was ready to win but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to lose. And there I was, sitting in the living room couch in my pajamas when my sister and brother-in-law finally got up and said, ‘Okay, we’ve had enough. You’ve been talking about this pageant non-stop and it’s all we’ve been hearing [about] this whole time. You obviously want it bad. Do it. Stop thinking about what other people think. Do it for yourself.’ And so I did. Also because the way my sister said it, standing over me with her hands on her hips and eyes looking straight at me, I was scared to say no. So I did it all again, and the rest is history. Thank you, family,” Pia said.
On December 20, Pia won the title in Las Vegas, after host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner. Steve apologized for his mistake.
Pia is currently in New York where she will stay for the duration of her reign and is preparing for a series of television interviews. – Rappler.com
More Miss Universe on Rappler:
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Coronation night:
- WATCH: Miss Universe Germany upset over PH win
- PH’s Pia Wurtzbach wins Miss Universe 2015
- Mix-up seen ’round the universe: Host Steve Harvey announces wrong winner
- WATCH: Miss Philippines, Miss Colombia speak up on Miss Universe 2015 mix-up
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- WATCH: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach’s triumphant winning moment
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