MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who just let go of her crown, said the prestigious pageant chose a deserving winner in France's Iris Mittenaere.
In a backstage televised interview on Monday, Wurtzbach said she is happy with the results even as the Philippines' candidate Maxine Medina only reached the competition's top six.
"I've observed the candidates over the past almost three weeks they've been here and I know we really chose a deserving winner," Wurtzbach said.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach crowns France's Iris Mittenaere the new Miss Universe at the conclusion of the pageant on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. The new winner will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. MUO/Anthony Yu
She added that she was "very much at ease" passing on her crown because she knows it will go to a "very much deserving winner."
Wurtzbach said that passing on the crown doesn't feel like it's the end of her reign, but "more like a beginning of a new chapter."
To the new queen, Pia said: "My advice, please learn how to back up your phone. It's gonna be very useful during your reign."
Explaining her advice, Wurtzbach said all the files and data, including her photos during her reign as Miss Universe, were all wiped out when her niece failed to input the correct pass code and locked her phone.
Mittenaere was crowned Miss Universe 2016 early Monday against Miss Haiti Raquel Pellisier. Miss Columbia, Andrea Tovar, took second runner-up.
The new winner will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization.