Beyond the Crown Pia Wurtzbach Shares the Untold Impact of Miss Universe After 10 Years
PIA WURTZBACH – Ten years after winning the Miss Universe crown, Pia Wurtzbach is opening up about the journey that reshaped her life far beyond the spotlight.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach recently took time to look back on her pageant journey, marking ten years since the experience that, according to her, brought lasting changes to her life. In a heartfelt reflection shared online, the Filipina beauty queen opened up about the emotions that resurfaced as she revisited a chapter that helped shape who she is today.
Wurtzbach admitted that reflecting on her Miss Universe years was not easy. “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, explaining that such reflection “requires honesty.” Her words revealed how deeply personal the experience remains, even a decade later.
Pia Wurtzbach emphasized that the impact of Miss Universe went far beyond winning 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 highlighted the importance of the support system around her, recalling the care, guidance, and feeling of being valued “not just as a winner, but as a woman going through something transformative.”
According to Wurtzbach, titles alone do not define the significance of pageantry. “A title on its own means very little without the right people behind it,” she wrote. While she acknowledged the grandeur of the competition, describing it as “a big production, amazing theatrics and a global stage,” she stressed that its true value lies in the personal growth it brings.
“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 ongoing criticism toward beauty pageants, Wurtzbach described her experience as “real,” adding, “It was demanding, emotional, imperfect, and deeply meaningful.” She expressed her appreciation, saying, “I am grateful for it. I will never take it for granted.”
Although she is no longer active in pageantry, Wurtzbach shared that she still cares deeply about its purpose.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 ended her message with gratitude and hope. “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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