Pia photographed in Duchess of Windsor suite for PeopleAsia

Inside her first magazine shoot as Miss Universe 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was photographed last Jan. 11 by PeopleAsia magazine at the Royal Suite of the iconic Waldorf Astoria Towers in New York, her first photo shoot for a Philippine-based glossy magazine after becoming Miss Universe 2015.

During the interview, held at Suite 42R, where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor lived from 1941 to 1961, Pia was punctual and in high spirits. She revealed to PeopleAsia how she trained for the pageant, and what was going on in her mind during the mix-up on Coronation Night.

PeopleAsia wanted to capture Pia’s success through a series of photographs that depict her newfound status as Beauty Queen royalty. As such, she was photographed at the Royal Suite, home of the Windsors for two decades. The images highlighted Pia’s beauty and poise, as she donned the creations of various designers, including Filipina fashion icon Josie Natori and jewelry designer Carissa Cruz-Evangelista, among others.

Photographed by Filbert Kung, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach’s cover for PeopleAsia magazine is set for release next week. The shoot was coordinated in New York by yours truly (I was in the Big Apple during pageant night), with the help of USA and Orientours president Joebert Opulencia, with the able support in Manila by the PeopleAsia team led by managing editor Jose Paolo dela Cruz, creative director Chino Corrales and incoming assistant editor Monica Araneta Tiosejo.