Even Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who looks effortlessly stunning whether she’s at Fashion Week or attending a work event, isn’t spared from weight-related comments during family reunions.
And this holiday season, the beauty queen hopes Filipinos will finally put an end to the long-standing habit of greeting relatives with remarks about their bodies.
Speaking at a glutathione and supplement launch event in Taguig—where she was introduced as the newest ambassador of New Moon Philippines—Pia said she hopes families will shift away from comments like “tumaba ka” or “pumayat ka.”
“Something we can let go off is ‘yung unang bati sa itsura natin like, ‘Huy, pumayat ka’ or ‘tumaba ka,’” she said. “I know nakasanayan na natin siya but it also makes women or anyone feel a certain way, if you know what I mean.”
Instead, she urged Filipinos to go for more meaningful greetings.
“Before natin batiin ang ating physical looks, I hope kamustahin naman na natin ang isa’t isa. Let’s talk about that later on. We can be that generation to stop that thing from going on.”
Now based in Dubai and carving a space in the global fashion scene, Pia said that with her fast-paced lifestyle, health and wellness have become her top priority.
“I won’t be able to go to work or enjoy going to work or keep doing what I’m doing if I’m not healthy or if I’m not taking care of myself,” she said.
She emphasized that the body needs proper maintenance: “Your body is like a machine and you have to make sure that it’s running well with the right food, right kind of rest, right supplements if you need it. And that’s how you can keep giving more of yourself at work, home, with your loved ones.”
Pia added that she understands how younger people often overlook wellness, but she’s glad conversations about health are becoming more common.
“When you’re young, wellness is not your priority. But now, I like that it’s being talked about more and there’s attention on how you can live,” she said.
Pia’s appearance at the event officially launched her as the ambassador for Soft Glow+, an upgraded version of New Moon’s best-selling glutathione supplement. She said the partnership is rooted in her personal search for a holistic approach to beauty.
“My work is facing the camera a lot, so I always find ways to improve, to be better, and in what ways I can also have a healthier approach to beauty,” she shared. “Because I’m looking into something more holistic, I found myself leaning into supplements as well.”
But before signing on, Pia insisted on trying the product first: “I have to be a user of the brand before I am able to come up on stage and testify and talk about it. So we took some time… That’s my non-negotiable. It has to be safe, it has to be effective, and that it works.”
New Moon CEO Jonah Sison-Ramos explained that Soft Glow+ stands out because it contains S-acetyl glutathione—a more absorbent form—along with tripeptide collagen, sakura extract, white tomato powder, zinc glycinate, and black pepper extract.
“This actually exceeds [others] when it comes to efficiency and absorption… It differs from the glutathione that exists in the market because of the proprietary blend that we have,” she said.
Pia’s return to the Philippines has been filled with activities. Aside from her New Moon launch, she also appeared at the first-ever Beauty Congress by Allure Philippines alongside Michelle Dee, Bianca Gonzalez, Iza Calzado, and Angel Aquino.
She also served as one of the judges at LoveYourself’s Ripple Awards, which honor achievements in HIV advocacy, gender diversity, youth empowerment, and mental health.
Whether onstage, on the runway, or speaking to the public, Pia Wurtzbach continues to redefine beauty—one that champions confidence, wellness, and kindness.
And this Christmas, she hopes Filipinos will choose compassion over unsolicited comments.
“We can be that generation to stop that thing from going on.” (with reports from Lau Balocos)
