Nelson Morales

Pia Wurtzbach on entering fashion week scene: 'I didn't want this to be a competition'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747635824099Carry on, carry on.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pia Wurtzbach first attended fashion week events abroad in 2023. Wurtzbach/Instagram"/><span class="fr-inner">Pia Wurtzbach first attended fashion week events abroad in 2023. Wurtzbach/Instagram </span></span></span></div><p>It&#x27;s been nearly two years since Pia Wurtzbach entered the fashion week scene, slowly making her mark as a style influencer.</p><p>And while it&#x27;s something that she has always wanted to do, the former Miss Universe reiterated that she never had the intention to compete with anyone.</p><p>&quot;I didn&#x27;t want this to be a competition,&quot; she said in an interview with Preview, which has tapped her to be its latest cover star. &quot;No, I didn&#x27;t want it to be.&quot; </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJtkR6ITpuE/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A5401728.200000003%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Wurtzbach, who made history in 2015 as the Philippines&#x27; third Miss Universe winner, pointed out that she no longer wants to be in &quot;another&quot; competition via fashion weeks.</p><p>She said all she wanted was to give it a shot: &quot;I don&#x27;t give up on something if I have a feeling that I can do it, even when everyone else is telling me to drop it. I don&#x27;t let go [nor do I] back down.&quot;</p><p>&quot;If I just see a glimpse of hope, I will latch onto it until all doors shut on me. If there&#x27;s hope, I&#x27;ll always feel like there&#x27;s space for me,&quot; she added. </p><p>Wurtzbach acknowledged that she was not born exposed to fashion, citing her humble background which meant only being able to afford essentials.</p><p>But as she gained her footing through pageantry, she felt it was time for her to take the leap -- even if it meant going back to square one. </p><p>&quot;I knew full well that walking in there was a challenge because, for years, I was used to not having to introduce myself. And then suddenly, [I am] somewhere new,&quot; she recalled.</p><p>&quot;They don&#x27;t know Miss Universe, and they probably don&#x27;t care either, so [I was going to] have to introduce myself as who I was [at that moment]. Who am I outside of pageants? What am I doing here? How do I want to position myself? How do I want them to remember me?&quot; </p><p>For Wurtzbach, it was all about constantly reinventing herself, saying she does not want to stop learning. </p><p>&quot;Your pride [might stop you from] being an underdog again, but even the masters were once babies who knew nothing. It&#x27;s uncomfortable, but it&#x27;s forced me to grow,&quot; she said. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJv0VjfTB6Z/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A5383273.900000006%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>While she did not mention any names, Wurtzbach has been constantly compared by fans with style icon Heart Evangelista, who has been a fixture in fashion week events abroad.</p><p>Many were also quick to point out that the Miss Universe 2015 titleholder hired Evangelista&#x27;s ex-glam team after the latter&#x27;s public falling out with the actress.  </p><p>Evangelista previously clarified that she &quot;never had a problem&quot; with Wurtzbach, only with the people she surrounds herself with. </p><p>The actress went on to wish Wurtzbach &quot;nothing but the best&quot; and &quot;good luck.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2024/10/22/heart-evangelista-on-pia-wurtzbach-i-never-had-a-problem-with-pia-1623">Heart Evangelista on Pia Wurtzbach: ‘I never had a problem with Pia’</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/3/12/pia-wurtzbach-shares-reason-she-left-paris-fashion-week-early-1416">Pia Wurtzbach shares reason she left Paris Fashion Week early</a></div>

<p>It's been nearly two years since Pia Wurtzbach entered the fashion week scene, slowly making her mark as a style influencer.</p>

It's been nearly two years since Pia Wurtzbach entered the fashion week scene, slowly making her mark as a style influencer.