Miss Universe 2016 beauty pageant may be held in the Philippines. According to Miss Universe president Paula Shugart, this is the right time to hold the 63-year-old international competition in the home country of Filipino celebrities Pia Wurtzbach, Manny Pacquiao and Charice Pempengco.
Recently, Shugart told ABS-CBN News that she has long wanted to have Miss Universe held in the Philippines. She said, "For years, I've talked about someday having the pageant here. I do know with Pia (Wurtzbach) right now, the entire worldwide focus is on the Philippines."
"I think it's a great opportunity," Shugart added. "I would love to be able to make it work. We'll see."
According to Shugart, new owners joined Miss Universe in October 2015 and all they did was to focus on getting the show on. Currently in the Philippines with Wurtzbach, she said they will figure things out when she goes back to the United States.
Shugart is happy not only because she is back in the Philippines again but also because during her time as Miss Universe president, a Filipino representative was able to win the crown.
The first time the Philippines hosted the Miss Universe beauty pageant was in 1974. It was also the first time in the history of Miss Universe that it was held in Asia.
Held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila, Miss Universe 1974 crowned Amparo Muñoz of Spain as the winner while the Philippines' Guadalupe Cuerva Sanchez only made it to the semi-finals. She was the successor of Margarita Moran, the second Miss Universe from the Philippines, the first being Gloria Diaz.
In 1994, the Miss Universe beauty pageant was held again in the Philippines for the second time. Sushmita Sen of India was crowned by Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico as the winner while the Philippines' Charlene Gonzales made it to the Top 6.
Meanwhile, Wurtzbach, the third Filipino to win Miss Universe, briefly stopped at the Manila City Hall on Jan. 25, Monday, before her courtesy call to the Senate in the Philippines to receive a Citation of Excellence, GMA News reported.
Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada gave Wurtzbach a key to the city and declared her as ab "adopted daughter of Manila." Miss Universe 2015 also received a pearl necklace and a bag from the former President of the Philippines.
Watch an interview with Wurtzbach here:
