Covers Super Bowl 50
Wurtzbach is in San Francisco for her assignment as Inside Edition‘s special correspondent for the Super Bowl 50. She covers the night’s events with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes previews, and game coverage.
I’ll be the special correspondent all week long so be sure to tune in to catch exclusive coverage by your truly.
Wraps up homecoming visit
After spending a week in the Philippines, Wurtzbach returns to the United States to continue fulfilling her responsibilities as Miss Universe.
I’ll be back soon. It’s very sad that I have to leave so soon. But like I said, this is a responsibility and I have duties now. I will continue making all of you proud!
Philippines victory walk
Wutzbach does a homecoming victory walk, in place of the one she missed in the 64th Miss Universe pageant. Wearing her crown, she smiles and waves in front of the thousands of fans in Araneta Coliseum, a place where her dream of becoming Miss Universe started. This is the final event in Wurtzbach’s homecoming itinerary.
Visits President Aquino
Wurtzbach pays courtesy call at Malacañang. She is accompanied by her mother and Miss Universe President Shugart. After talking with the President, Wurtzbach gives a short press conference.
It’s an honor to be in the presence of the President, of course, especially now that I’m here as Miss Universe, bringing back the crown for the Filipino. He congratulated me and I congratulated him for a successful term.
Philippine Senate honors
Wurtzbach visits the Philippine Senate for a courtesy call and to receive Senate Resolution 111 congratulating and commending her for giving honor to the country. Senate President Drilon:
For a country that is very proud of the intelligence, talent and beauty of its women, this is indeed a great reason to celebrate. Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach exhibited not only classic Filipina beauty but also intelligence with her response to the final question. I understand that Pia has made the fight against HIV her main advocacy. I can assure you that the Senate is one with you in this campaign. We will look on legislation that will boost this campaign. We also have a champion. Our very own Pia, Senator Pia Cayetano.
On Wurtzbach joining politics, Drilon:
Given her politically conscious responses to the questions, I am not surprised. You know the question was very political – the presence of the American bases, the presence of American troops, the matter of the HIV, her views on a number of critical issues. I have advised her that if she’s really interested in joining government, she would be a very strong advocate of issues that she has expressed her opinions on. And, I advised her to first try her hand in some appointed position where she can push her advocacy, rather than join the politics in an elections.
Shares best advice
At the homecoming press conference, Wurtzbach says that the best advice she received on her journey to the crown was from 2011 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup.
She said you should know when to peak. You should save your energy for moments that really matter. The competition can be very exhausting. There are times that you should pull back to save your energy for important moments like the preliminaries and the pageant night.
Returns to Philippines
Wurtzbach returns to the Philippines after winning the Miss Universe 2015 pageant in Las Vegas. She arrives in NAIA Terminal 2. Bb. Pilipinas officials, the media and pageant supporters welcome her.
I’m so happy, I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so excited to finally come home. I don’t want to reveal too much about my experiences because I want to save those for the press conference that will happen tomorrow, so please come. I’m so happy that I’ve come home again here in the Philippines. It feels like I’m going to compete again.
Forgives Harvey
Wurtzbach appears on The Steve Harvey Show titled Miss Universe: The Truth more than a month after the Miss Universe 2015 fiasco. Wurtzbach:
Don’t beat yourself up for this anymore. Come on. Let’s move forward, let’s be happy.
Harvey:
I want some healing to be done. for you and for Miss Colombia. I want that more than anything. So, thank you for coming. I thought you were an absolute class act. Absolute class act.
Takes first Miss Universe walk
Considering the unique circumstances of her victory, Wurtzbach finally takes her long overdue Miss Universe walk on American talk show Live with Kelly and Michael. Kelly:
Pia, you never had the chance to do your walk. You know, the famous walk. Do you want to do your walk for us now.
Miss Philippines wins Miss Universe 2015 after mix-up
In the final stages of the 64th annual competition for Miss Universe in Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Harvey initially reads Miss Colombia as winner. After she is crowned however, Harvey returns to the stage and corrects himself.
Ok folks, I have to apologize the first runner-up is Colombia. Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines!
Buys NBC’s Miss Universe stake
Trump says he has bought NBC’s stake in Miss Universe and has settled all legal claims with them.
Just purchased NBC’s half of The Miss Universe Organization and settled all lawsuits against them. Now own 100% — stay tuned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2015
Sues Univision for $500 million
Trump sues Univision for $500 million in New York State Supreme Court for breach of contract and defamation, over a $13.5 million contract for broadcast rights to Trump’s Miss Universe Organization pageants. The parties had reached an agreement in January that included the rights to broadcast the Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and the Miss Universe competition from 2015 through 2019. Univision agreed to pay $2.5 million per year until 2017, and $3 million per year for 2018 and 2019, and to make “reasonable efforts” to broadcast it over two to three hours on a Sunday night. Trump says Univision’s’ decision not to broadcast the pageant is politically motivated and an attempt to suppress his freedom of speech:
Nothing that I stated was different from what I have been saying for many years. I want strong borders, and I do not support or condone illegal immigration.
He also says a high-ranking Univision executive called him, claiming that Univision had been “inundated with calls demanding that Univision immediately terminate its relationship” with Trump after his remarks and that they could “no longer sell” the pageant to its sponsors or viewers. Trump also claims the executive apologized to him for pulling the pageant, and that the network had decided to simply pay the Miss Universe Organization its $13.5 million in licensing fees. In a memo to staff Univision CEO Falco denies apologizing to Trump:
I can also assure you that we never apologized because we have nothing to apologize for.
NBC drops Miss USA,Miss Universe
NBC says it will drop Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which it jointly owns with Trump.
At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values. Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump.
Trump stands by his comments and said his “stance on immigration is correct.”
As far as ending the relationship, I have to do that, because my view of immigration is different from the folks at NBC. I told NBC, I just can’t change my stance…NBC is weak, and like everybody else is trying to be politically correct.
Univision drops Miss Universe
Univision ends partnership with the Miss Universe Organization (partly owned by Trump) due to Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants:
Today, the entertainment division of Univision Communications Inc. announced that it is ending the company’s business relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, which is part-owned by Donald J. Trump, based on his recent, insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants. At Univision, we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country. We will not be airing the Miss USA pageant on July 12th or working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.
Trump responds by saying the Mexican government is putting pressure on Univision to stop him exposing the weaknesses the U.S. has at the southern border:
The government of Mexico and the lobbyists and the special interests have put tremendous pressure on Univision, a company that is very subservient to Mexico, to get Trump to stop exposing the terrible situation at the border and the terrible trade deals that are being made by the United States to the benefit of Mexico. I will not be party to that, because my love of the country is too great to allow this to happen.