New Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach hopes to champion HIV awareness. This is what she said during her final A&A in the recently concluded beauty pageant last Sunday in Las Vegas.
Miss Philippines Wurtzbach was formally crowned as the new Miss Universe after a major gaffe from the host Steve Harvey, who initially announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the 2015 successor of Paulina Vega, another Colombian. Harvey has since apologized for the "terrible mistake," and Miss Universe has issued an official statement over what happened.
During the final Q&A, only three contestants-Miss USA Olivia Jordan, Miss Philippines, and Miss Colombia-remained. All of them were then asked a single question: "Why should you be the next Miss Universe?"
Wurtzbach cited that she wanted to show the world-"the universe, rather," she quipped-that she is confidently beautiful with a heart by pushing for advocacies, including HIV awareness to the youth. She specifically mentioned how the infection is currently a major problem in her country.
According to UNICEF Philippines, prevalence of HIV in the Southeast Asian nation remains low. However, it's one of the seven countries to have registered the highest number of new cases, an increase by more than 25%, between 2001 and 2009. Last May, at least 735 new cases have been reported, the highest so far in a month.
HIV infection is concentrated in certain demographics, which included men who engaged in male-to-male sex, unprotected sex, and intravenous drug abuse.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, shared that over 25% of these new cases were adolescents between 15 and 24 years old. Majority are from 25 to 34 years old.
It's unclear how Wurtzbach intends to promote HIV awareness, but Miss Universe has a long-standing partnersh
ip with Aid for AIDS, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Latino Commission on AIDS, and YouthAIDS/PSI. Aside from raising awaress, the charity organization is also advocating testing and access to medical care.
