“Pambansang bestie” or national best friend. That’s some how Filipino fans now call Miss Bulgaria Radostina “Joy” Todorova, the beauty queen who cheered on Pia Wurtzbach after she was finally declared the real Miss Universe.
READ: Miss Bulgaria loves Pia Wurtzbach, earns PH netizens praise
Todorova first caught the attention of Filipino fans when she started cheering Wurtzbach to step forward and claim her crown moments after host Steve Harvey admitted that he erroneously declared Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the Miss Universe winner.
Supporters of Wurtzbach appreciated the gesture, especially after Miss Germany reportedly talked ill of the Philippine candidate.
READ: Misdirection from Miss Germany language barrier or deliberate mischief
One Filipino netizen even created a meme about it. The photo, first posted by blogger Ron Cruz, had four images showing Wurtzbach looking confused and Todorova enthusiastically gesturing for her to take the stage.
“Even if we already know what to do, we always look for that one friend who will push us to do it. We all need a #MissBulgaria in our lives,” the post, which received more than 97,000 likes, read.
Cruz later posted on his Facebook page that Todorova added him on Facebook.
“Me: I need a Miss Bulgaria in my life. Miss Bulgaria: Ok. I DIED!” an amused Cruz said after posting proof that Todorova had indeed sent him a friend request.
Todorova has been amused as well with the attention she has been getting.
“We are all around the World!!! I can’t believe what’s happening……. :X Thank you, Philippines!” she posted upon seeing the meme and the comments of netizens lauding her for what she did.
“I love Philippines!!! Thank you for your kindness” she said in another post. KS