1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran (now Floirendo)–the country’s last Miss Universe before Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach won the crown today–has this to say about the country’s victory, the brief awkward moment before the victory, and why Pia will even be more famous after that.

Moran-Floirendo went on to become a wife, a mother after her Miss Universe stint, and moreover, as a leading culture and social advocate and one of the movers of the Philippine ballet scene.

She joined the online voting this morning for Pia.

This is her exclusive interview with Inquirer Lifestyle:

“I don’t normally watch a live coverage of the Miss Universe Pageant, but this time I made that effort because Alex Vergara’s Facebook posts on Pia Wurtzbach’s gown made me curious.  Secondly, I anticipated a call from Mario Dumaual of ABS-CBN TV Patrol after the live telecast and I didn’t want to be caught unaware whatever the outcome. Furthermore, the Miss Universe Pageant was just sold by Donald Trump and was presenting a new format. I took part in the online voting.

“After 42 years, Pia Wurtzbach  finally succeeded me as our  Miss Universe, though awkward in the way it ended, she deserved the title. I had very strong feelings she would make it because she exuded the aura of a winner. She answered well and her advocacy on HIV awareness was clear. Though Steve Harvey’s embarrassing and unfortunate mistake robbed Pia the glory of basking in the moment of being awarded the title, the Filipinos will give her that moment of glory.  Pia will even be more famous this coming year because the world media will be more interested to interview her because of this incident. She is in a position to present herself well as this is history in the making. Congratulations to Pia. She made all Filipinos proud.”