The reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach expressed her gratitude towards the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Community for their continuous support in her journey from Binibining Pilipinas to Miss Universe.
During her grand press conference at the Novotel Manila, the Filipino-German beauty said that she would not have won the crown without the Filipino gay community, who closely watched her rise to be the most beautiful woman in the universe.
In a recent statement, Wurtzbach said that she supports gender equality, adding that she is a representative of everybody.
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“I represent everybody now. I know I’m wearing a sash that says Miss Universe and that we’re all about empowering women. But more than that, we’re empowering everybody,” Wurtzbach said on the second day of her homecoming in the Philippines.
“I believe in gender equality. And that’s for women, men, and everybody in between. We’re all equals,” she added.
Wurtzbach then addressed all her “beki” fans and expressed her gratitude for their support. (Beki is the local term for gay).
“May kakampi kayo (You have someone to support you), I represent everybody now. Sa lahat ng mga beki na sumuporta sa Miss Universe, grabe (To all the gays who supported Miss Universe, wow), the support and the spirit of Miss Universe would not be the same without you, guys,” she said.
“The first step is get yourself tested and to let yourself be informed. I have plans of getting tested myself, too,” Wurtzbach said when asked about the HIV crisis that has affected the LGBT community.
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“If I take the first step, then maybe others can follow suit. So I hope that they do, they really do,” she added.
Wurtzbach has mentioned during the question and answer portion of Miss Universe, that her main advocacy as the reigning queen is to spread awareness on HIV.
“If I were to be Miss Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth and I will raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that is timely and relevant to my country, which is the Philippines,” Wurtzbach said then.