MANILA, Philippines – Her reign begins.
Pia Wurtzbach begins her first day as the 64th Miss Universe on Tuesday by taking to social media to thank her supporters.
READ: Philippines Pia Wurtzbach is 64th Miss Universe
"42 years of drought and now it finally reigns :) Mabuhay! Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat," she said in an Instagram post, her first since winning the crown on Sunday (Monday morning, Philippine time).
In an interview clip aired in the ABS-CBN late night talk show "Tonight with Boy Abunday" on Monday, Pia said it was her will to win that led her to take home the Miss Universe crown.
“Palaban lang talaga,” she replied when asked what she thinks made her win the pageant.
Pia also revealed that she reviewed her notes from the past Binibining Pilipinas pageants she participated in.
"Three years na ko sumali sa Binibini, may tatlo ka na rin notebook, at dala ko ang tatlong notebook na 'yon sa backstage,” she said. “So hanggang sa last minute nagre-review talaga ako ng Q and A. Kailangan sagutin ko ng maayos, sayang naman ando'n na ako. Buti nakapag-review naman.”
The 26-year-old beauty queen lost in the local Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2013 and 2014 before winning the Miss Universe Philippines title earlier this year.