Pia wins the heart of America

MANILA, Philippines – On her first official duty as Miss Universe 2015 last Monday, Jan. 4 (US Time), Pia Wurtzbach easily won the heart of America with her wit and humor, smartness and intelligence, in a series of TV appearances in New York where she is based during her one-year reign.

Below are sound bites from her interviews:

• With Lara Spencer on Good Morning America:

On her moment when she got the crown after the host announced there was a mistake. “It was very exciting. Of course, I wanted to win. I joined Miss Philippines three times just to earn the chance to wear the sash that says PHILIPPINES and win Miss Universe. In the Philippines, that’s a big deal. It’s been 42 years since we last won. Everyone was anticipating that we would get the crown and we finally did.”

On Miss Colombia. “I greeted Miss Colombia on her birthday which was on Christmas Day. I asked how she was doing and she seemed like she was okay. I was very concerned with her. She is a very beautiful lady who is very talented. She will have other opportunities and she would do very well, I am sure.”

On the fans of Miss Colombia. “I understand fully how they feel. They want their bet Miss Colombia to win. If it were the other way around, I am sure the Filipinos will also feel a little bit disappointed.”

On Donald Trump’s idea that Pia and Miss Colombia share the crown. “It would be a little bit difficult for two girls to share a crown. I have very high hopes that this would bring great opportunities for me, Miss Colombia and the other girls.”

On being a Bond girl. “Of course, that is one of my dreams and I would want to do that. But I have a full year ahead of me as Miss Universe. I have these causes that I would like to give light to like HIV, relief operations for countries that are hit by calamities, like the Philippines and cyberbullying.”

• With Juju Chang on Nightline

On cyberbullying and what Pia feels when nasty things are being said and tweeted about her. “I don’t get affected by them. The only comments that matter to me are those that come from people that matter.”

• With Don Lemon on CNN Tonight

On Pia looking confused (during the Miss U finals). “I never thought for a moment that it was a joke or that it was something planned. I just didn’t want to assume I was the winner until Steve Harvey announced that I was the winner. When Steve apologized for the mistake, I told myself, ‘Pia, you have to wait a little more.’ Then he announced that Miss Colombia was first runner-up I told myself again, ‘Pia, you have to wait a little bit more.’ It was only when Steve said, ‘Miss Universe is Miss Philippines’ that I said to myself, ‘Okay, I won!’”

Pia made a very good impression in all her TV appearances. Maybe it could all be summed up by what Don Lemon told Pia, “I was rooting for you. You are not only a beautiful young lady. You are very smart. You are very intelligent.”

Maybe Lemon should have added, “Confidently beautiful with a heart.” This phrase punctuated Pia’s winning answer during the pageant and might as well be the pageant buzzword of the decade.  — Compiled by Gerry Diaz (of the Aces & Queens, the team that builds up beauty queens, including Pia)