Pia Wurtzbach Biography

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (born September 24, 1989), known as Pia Romero, is a Filipino-German actress, TV Host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2015 on December 20, 2015 after becoming Miss Universe Philippines 2015 at the Binibining Pilipinas 2015 pageant on March 15, 2015.

Early life and background

Wurtzbach was born in Stuttgart, Baden-Wrttemberg in Germany, to a German father and Filipino mother. Her middle name of "Alonzo" is her mother's maiden name which is a naming practice in the Philippines and based upon Spanish naming customs. From Iligan City, she later moved to Cagayan de Oro City in the country's Northern Mindanao region where she attended kindergarten at Kong Hua School and primary school at Corpus Christi. Her parents separated when she was 11 years old and she became the family's main money-earner until the age of 18 by doing modeling and acting. After being raised in the Philippines, she spent several years in England. She finished her secondary education at ABS-CBN Distance Learning Center in Quezon City, Metro Manila and studied culinary arts at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies in San Juan, Metro Manila. Wurtzbach speaks fluent Cebuano, English and Tagalog. She also speaks basic German, describing it as "Enough to get myself a bratwurst".

Acting career

Wurtzbach is a professional model, actress, host and TV personality. She began acting at age four under the stage name Pia Romero. Managed by ABS-CBN Corporation's talent agency, Star Magic, she was included on the Star Circle Batch 11. Among her TV credits are the teen-oriented series K2BU, the concert variety program ASAP, the romance anthology Your Song, the sitcom show Bora, and the drama series Sa Piling Mo. She appeared in films such as Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (2003), All My Life (2004), and All About Love (2006). She went on to become a stylist, makeup artist and beauty writer for Philippine Daily Inquirer's 2bU section.

Pageantry

Binibining Pilipinas

Wurtzbach joined the Binibining Pilipinas Pageant three times before winning the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title. During Binibining Pilipinas 2013, she was named as the first Runner-up because she took fifth place. She joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2014, but only placed in the top 15. A controversy erupted when she failed to win any title following her question-and-answer portion. She was asked a question in Tagalog by a Filipino judge, Senator Sonny Angara, which she answered in Tagalog. Online commentators wondered if the question and answer in Tagalog cost her points from the international judges and, therefore, any title that year. On her third attempt for the title in 2015, she won the highest title, Miss Universe Philippines, and went on to compete in the Miss Universe 2015 Pageant.

Miss Universe 2015

Wurtzbach represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2015 held on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. At the end of the show, host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutirrez as the winner. However, after Gutirrez's crowning, Harvey returned to the stage and stated that he had misread the results and that Wurtzbach was really Miss Universe 2015. Paulina Vega (Miss Universe 2014) then removed the crown from Gutirrez's head and placed it on Wurtzbach's head.

During the first question and answer round, Wurtzbach was asked by host Steve Harvey: "Earlier this year, there was a controversy in the Philippines about the United States reopening of military base in your country. Do you think the United States should have a military presence in your country?", Wurtzbach answered:

In the final question and answer portion, the top three contestants were asked the same question by Harvey: "Why should you be the next Miss Universe?" and she replied:

Wurtzbach is the third Miss Universe from the Philippines after Gloria Diaz in 1969, and Margarita Moran in 1973.

On January 21, 2016, she traveled to Bali, Indonesia to shoot a commercial for C 1000, a vitamin brand available in Indonesia. Two days later, on January 23, 2016, she arrived in the Philippines for a week-long homecoming celebration with visits to the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay and Quezon City. She also had courtesy calls to the Congress of the Philippines, Senate of the Philippines and Malacaang Palace.

On February 1, 2016, she arrived in San Francisco to fulfill her duties as Inside Editions special correspondent for Super Bowl 50. While in San Francisco, she was also reunited with Janine Tugonon, Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up from the Philippines.

On February 28, 2016, she travelled to Toronto, Canada to deliver a speech against bullying at the Speakers Forum for the International Students of the Language Academy of Canada wherein she shared some of her childhood experiences as a victim of bullying. During her stay in Canada, she was reunited with Miss Universe Canada 2015, Paola Nunez Valdez. She also met and gave some advice to the contestants of Miss Universe Canada 2016.

On March 25, 2016, Wurtzbach returned to the Philippines for an unannounced visit to take care of some personal things including renewing her Philippine passport, charity works and film a new commercial for Philippine Airlines. She also met and gave advice to the candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2016 during their press presentation. On April 12, 2016 she came back to the Philippines for the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 pageant and on April 17 crowned her successor Maxine Medina as Miss Universe Philippines 2016 during the coronation night. During the pageant she was reunited with Miss Myanmar 2015, May Barani Thaw and Miss Malaysia 2015, Vanessa Tevi while Miss Universe 2015 2nd runner-up Olivia Jordan served as a judge. Wurtzbach's farewell speech and walk at Binibining Pilipinas 2016 as Miss Universe Philippines 2015, trended at social media with enormous hits.

On April 21, 2016, Wurtzbach arrived in Peru to attend Miss Peru 2016 pageant where she served as a judge. She also had a press conference a day before the pageant and was greeted by the Lima City Mayor, Luis Castaneda and received an honor of being "The Distinguished Guest of Lima". Wurtzbach along with Miss Peru 2015, Laura Spoya crowned Valeria Piazza, Miss Peru 2016.

On April 27, 2016, Wurtzbach threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the New York Mets.

On May 27, 2016, Wurtzbach travelled to Machala, Ecuador to help the victims of the recent earthquake that killed the lives of at least 600 people. She was welcomed by the mayor of Machala, Carlos Falquez Batallas to the city and was named as an honorary volunteer of the Guayas Red Cross wherein she was invited to participate in the global appeal of raise resources to build 6,000 homes for the earthquake victims. She was also given a chance to meet Connie Jimnez, Miss Ecuador 2016 during her visit.

In June 2016, Wurtzbach represented the Philippines and the Miss Universe Organization in a high-level meeting of the United Nations that aimed at ending AIDS.

Last June 25, Pia traveled to Cayman Islands and last Aug 13, Pia traveled to Thailand for some photoshoots.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2002	K2BU	Jewel
2002-2011	ASAP	Herself/Performer
2003-2004	It Might Be You	Allison/Mary Lou
2005-2006	Bora: Sons of the Beach	Pia
2006	Sa Piling Mo	Julia
2011	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Elaine	Episode: "Stroller" Credited as Pia Wurtzbach
2011	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Michelle	Episode: "Birth Certificate"
2012	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Marilou	Episode: "Komiks"
2012	Aryana	Dikya/Jelay
2012	Third Eye	Sari	Episode: "Sirena sa Breakwater"

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2003	Kung Ako Na Lang Sana	Young Chari
2004	All My Life	Sarah
2006	All About Love	Carmi