Watch Pia Wurtzbach Finally Get Her Miss Universe Walk On US Morning TV Show

When Pia Wurtzbach won the Miss Universe crown back in December 20, she wasn’t given the opportunity to take her final walk as Miss Universe. It’s not in the least surprising, considering the unique circumstances of her victory.

Weeks after being crowned Miss Universe, Pia Wurtzbach finally got her long overdue Miss Universe walk thanks to an appearance on the American morning show Live with Kelly and Michael, the Inquirer reports.

“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?” asked host Kelly Ripa.

After Pia agreed to do the honors, Kelly’s co-host Michael Strahan announced: “Everybody, please welcome Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach from the Philippines!”

And right no cue, the reigning Miss Universe did her walk in front of the morning show’s live audience, who showed their appreciation by cheering her on.

As everyone can recall, 2015 Miss Universe host Steve Harvey initially declared the wrong winner when he announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the new Miss Universe. Moments after Ariadna was presented with the crown, Steve Harvey went back on stage to correct himself and announce Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach as the rightful winner. After an awkward moment, the crown was taken away from Ariadna and given to Pia Wurtzbach.

After spending her holidays in New York following her victory, Pia was finally able to tell her side of the story on national television.

“Take us back in time. Take us back to the moment: Steve Harvey announces Miss Colombia as the winner. So what goes through your mind?” asked Kelly. “Are you disappointed? Are you still happy to be there? Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“When I was announced as first runner-up initially, I was just thinking to myself, ‘Okay, I made it this far. I’m pretty sure I made my country proud, and that’s good enough for me,'” Pia said. “I know I did everything I could, I know I did very well, but when he announced that I was, in fact, the winner, of course I was even more excited.”

Wurtzbach also recounted all the effort it took for her to win the Miss Universe crown, saying: “I mean I joined Miss Universe because I wanted to win, and I finally got it. It took me a long time to get here. I took me three attempts in Miss Philippines to join Miss Universe, and it’s been 42 years since the Philippines won, so this is a big thing for us.”

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During the interview, Pia recalled how it took some time for everything to sink in when she learned that she is the real winner. It happened backstage where she had a “good cry” following the ceremonies.

“‘Did I really win? Is this final? Are you gonna come back and take the crown from me?’ But then they reassured me that ‘Yes, you are the winner, you are Miss Universe,'” Wurtzbach said.

Ms. Wurtzbach was then asked on whether she was able to talk with Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez following the announcement mix up at the pageant. Pia said that she wasn’t able to do so immediately due to the frenzy of activity going on at the time, not to mention that she also had to attend the press conference following her victory. But Pia did reveal that she greeted Ariadna on her birthday, which happens to be on Christmas Day as well. Ms. Gutierrez honored her well-wishes a reply, according to Wurtzbach.

Since being crowned Miss Universe, Pia spent the holidays in New York. It was her first trip to the Big Apple. “I did something very tourist-y, they say,” she said of how she celebrated New Year’s in New York. “I watched the ball drop.”

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[Image via Pia Wurtzbach/Instagram]