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Outgoing Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach became emotional as she looked back at how the Miss Universe organization guided her during her rule as the most beautiful woman in the universe.
In an interview with Boy Abunda at the “Bottomline” Saturday night, the Philippine bet who won the Miss Universe title in 2015 teared up when asked by Abunda about the help her manager Esther Swan gave her during her reign.
Swan was seen tearing up as well as she listened to an emotional Wurtzbach heap her with gratitude.
“Esther, thank you so much for guiding me… Esther knows so much about me, she probably knows more about me than my family now or everybody,” Wurtzbach said between sniffs.
“Esther knows everything, the good and the bad.”
Wurtzbach said she owed it to Swan for guiding her in the right direction.
She said she was grateful for Swan’s help, especially because “it’s so easy to watch the queen fall.”
“She taught me a lot of life lessons, because I’ve made some mistakes. Hindi nila ako pinabayaan (They did not forget me),” Wurtzbach said.
“It’s so easy to watch the queen fall. That’s what people want to see. ‘Alright, you made it, you won the crown.’ But isn’t it more entertaining, especially for the media, to see a girl lose her way?” the emotional queen said.
Wurtzbach said Swan guided her to become whole, and not broken, during her reign as queen.
“She (Swan) wants to make sure, she said to me, ‘My greatest fear is for you to leave us like, not as a whole. Like, broken,” Wurtzbach said.
Wurtzbach said Swan has taken care of her, not just because it was her job, but because she cares.
“From the very first sit down conversation I had, she told me, ‘You have to be honest with me. You have to trust me. Trust me, because I’m the first line of defense,’” Wurtzbach said.
“I’ll never forget that. It’s true, it’s not just because it’s her job. It’s because she cares about the welfare of the girls,” she added.
Wurtzbach said she was grateful the Miss Universe organization listened to her views and opinions during her reign.
She said she surprised that the Miss Universe President Paula Shugart always asked her: “What about you, Pia?”
“Nagulat ako (I was surprised) because I always thought of Miss Universe as a job; you know, give me instructions, give me directions, I’ll do it. But now, they caught me by surprise, when they asked me, ‘What about you, Pia?'” Wurtzbach said.
Wurtzbach said she was grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Miss Universe queen, after attempting to win the most coveted crown thrice.
“You don’t know how life was difficult for me back in the Philippines. I’m just so thankful and grateful that you made this all happen,” Wurtzbach said.
Wurtzbach in 2015 won the most controversial Miss Universe title after host Steve Harvey wrongly crowned Miss Colombia as the queen, only to correct himself after and announce that the Philippines’ bet won the crown.
Wurtzbach has led an advocacy for HIV awareness during her one year reign as the queen which ended the 42-year title drought for the Philippines.
After her reign, Wurtzbach would be serving as a Miss Universe ambassador, and was also set to appear as special guest in the fifth cycle of the model search “Asia’s Next Top Model.” JE/rga
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