Why Pia Wurtzbach Says Miss Universe Changed Her Life in Ways Few People Know
PIA WURTZBACH – Time has passed, but the impact remains as Pia Wurtzbach revisits her Miss Universe journey ten years later with honesty and gratitude.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach recently reflected on her pageant journey as she marked a decade since the experience, which she said left a lasting impact on her life. In an emotional message shared online, the Filipina beauty queen spoke about the feelings that resurfaced as she revisited a pivotal chapter that helped shape the person she has become.
Wurtzbach acknowledged that looking back on her Miss Universe years was challenging. “I’ve gone back and forth about posting this because revisiting Miss Universe forces me to sit with what it meant to me then and what it means now,” she wrote, noting that the process “requires honesty.” Her statement showed how personal and meaningful the experience remains for her, even ten years later.
She stressed that the influence of Miss Universe extended far beyond earning the crown. “My Miss Universe experience changed my life in real and lasting ways. Not just because of the crown, but because of the people who made that experience what it was,” she said. Wurtzbach pointed to the value of having a strong support system, recalling the guidance, care, and sense of being appreciated “not just as a winner, but as a woman going through something transformative.”
According to Wurtzbach, pageant titles alone do not define their true importance. “A title on its own means very little without the right people behind it,” she wrote. While recognizing the scale of the event as “a big production, amazing theatrics and a global stage,” she emphasized that its deeper worth lies in the growth it fosters.
“The truest measure will always be the women who walk away saying, ‘That changed me. That gave me confidence. That opened doors. That made me believe in myself,’” she said. “Those voices matter. They always will.”
Despite the criticisms often directed at beauty pageants, Wurtzbach described her own experience as “real,” adding, “It was demanding, emotional, imperfect, and deeply meaningful.” She also expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am grateful for it. I will never take it for granted.”
Though she is no longer actively involved in pageantry, Wurtzbach shared that she continues to care about its deeper purpose. “I will always care about what Miss Universe can represent when it is done with intention. The girls are not just part of the show, they are the heart of it.”
She concluded her reflection with appreciation and optimism. “To the people who made my journey what it was, you remain family to me,” she said. “Ten years later, I look back with gratitude. It changed my life. And I hope, truly, that it can continue to change lives in the ways that matter most.”
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