Life beyond the crown: Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey on reinvention, fashion and finding her true voice

Her foray into fashion also arrived at a time when the industry itself was shifting. In the years following the pandemic, fashion weeks saw a noticeable increase in diversity, with Asians taking up more space not only in front rows but in private showings and global events. “There’s a seat for us now,” she says, and one she doesn’t take for granted.

Fashion has always interested Pia, but it took her time to find her footing. “I couldn’t really pursue it at the start of my career because I simply didn’t have the resources,” she admits. Now, a regular at fashion weeks, she reflects on that journey with a more open perspective. “I’m discovering new interests and aspects of myself I want to explore.” However, even for a seasoned public figure, that process of self-discovery has often been accompanied by doubt.

Pia entered the entertainment industry at a young age, progressing from television to film before pageantry entered her life. The Filipina-German discovered a different kind of discipline training for Binibining Pilipinas; and having won that, Miss Universe. Her victory was celebrated worldwide, especially in the Philippines, where she became the third Filipina to claim the crown after decades. She ushered in a new wave of representation and female empowerment with her signature motto, “confidently beautiful, with a heart”. Without a doubt, that heart would carry her through a career that took her across continents and industries, through the highs of global recognition, as well as quieter, more challenging moments that rarely make headlines.

“Yes, it looks simple from the outside,  but it is a serious job. You need to be really good at planning, time management… you’ve got to make some adult decisions,” Pia declares. It may surprise many that, despite her global visibility, Pia remains self-managed. It’s a choice that didn’t come easily but one that developed naturally over time. Throughout her career, direction often came from external sources—mentors, coaches, managers—wise voices shaping her path. Today, the 36-year-old shares it’s time to listen to her own. “Now [that] I’m the boss of my own business, I decide who to work with, what to work on and how to use my time.” 

Read more: “You are the queen of your own universe”—Pia Wurtzbach shares her journey in publishing her novel

Still, being in the public eye, one is never far from judgment. Online hate is something Pia has faced (and largely become accustomed to) throughout her career. When asked if it ever affects her, the entrepreneur offers a sobering response. “We’re all fighting our silent battles. Some of us are just really good at hiding it.” When she started gracing red carpets, film festivals and fashion weeks, Pia thought it would all be great; but the noise online, “That’s something I didn’t expect,” she admits. “[I] try to make it look easy because I want people to be confident in me—I don’t want to show any cracks.” But there’s no denying that bashers come hand-in-hand with any public platform and despite appearances, some comments slip through. Most recently, she found herself questioning her own content direction. “I almost stopped doing my talkingto-camera recap videos because of the hate online,” she reveals. “Then, I realised, no—storytelling is actually one of my strengths. I shouldn’t let these people tell me to stop being myself.”

That openness in sharing her story is also reflected in how she discusses mental health. Unbeknownst to many, during the height of her Miss Universe reign—arguably the most celebrated period of her life—Pia was quietly dealing with anxiety and depression. It was not something she felt ready to share at the time. “I didn’t want to let people down,” she admits. There is a certain expectation placed on public figures, especially those who represent national pride, to embody strength without fracture. Breaking that perception requires not just courage but timing.

Now, with distance and perspective, she has chosen to speak about it more openly, using her platform to promote conversations that are often avoided. Her advocacy is not merely performative; it is rooted in lived experience. “Don’t bottle it up,” she says. “Talk to someone. Even just one person you trust.” It is a simple message, but one that carries weight precisely because of where it comes from. “There is nothing weak about asking for help; it doesn’t mean you failed.”

This is also why Pia remains passionate about her advocacy work on HIV and AIDS in the Philippines. Working closely with LoveYourself, a community-based health care organisation, she champions testing, awareness and especially mental health. Emphasising the important role of support systems in a person’s life, she reveals, “My friends have been very supportive. It’s really nice that the [glam] team that I travel with … they see all parts of me. They see the days when I’m not exactly okay, when I’m feeling a lot of heat online and maybe it’s starting to get to me. It’s having that supportive energy [that keeps me going].”

Alongside maintaining a trusted, close-knit group around her during demanding travels and commitments, online commentary can also have the opposite effect—a lot of loving support outshines the negativity. “Some of [my fans] have been supporters from years ago, from when I first started. They feel like they’re growing with me and they are joining me in this journey I’m on, whether it’s in showbiz, advocacy, my personal life, or in fashion, beauty—they’re there.”

The push and pull between external pressures and finding her centre remains a key balance for Pia. “Before, I’d dedicate myself to one thing, so other parts of my life suffered. Now I’m able to say no. I don’t feel depleted—I feel like my cups are filled.” It is a quiet yet meaningful shift—less about doing less, and more about moving with purpose.

That balance extends beyond career choices. At home, Pia openly discusses the role her husband, Jeremy Jauncey, plays in this chapter of her life. The founder and CEO of Beautiful Destinations provides both stability and freedom, encouraging her to make her own decisions while reminding her to trust the instincts she is still learning to rely on. In a life that constantly moves between cities, busy schedules and expectations, that kind of support is not incidental—it is fundamental. “He lets me grow,” she shares. “In business, [he’s] also been teaching me how to read contracts, how to protect myself, how to just be smarter about things.”

Pia admits that communication and extensive planning remain essential to their marriage. The globetrotting couple divides their time between Dubai, Manila and everywhere in between. “I don’t sneak anything in my calendar that he doesn’t know about, and same with him. I’m aware of where he is, he’s aware of where I am.” With recent political events affecting the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates included, Pia shares how inspiring the community has been in their homebase of Dubai. “I’ve always had a strong sense of trust in how [the country] handles situations. There’s a level of calm and structure there that gives reassurance, even when from a distance.” And as for plans of starting a family with Jeremy, she says with certainty, “It’s always there.”

Today, it’s all about letting things develop with time. Pia is no longer in a rush. Her pursuits focus less on filling her calendar and more on aligning with passions that reflect her personal values. And fashion, now her most natural outlet and personal armour, embodies that shift. One that finds a near poetic parallel in one of her favourite collections from Bvlgari, the Serpenti. “She sheds her old self to be reborn and renewed and come out as a better version of herself,” she says. “I love that message because it’s exactly what I’m experiencing.” It is a metaphor that feels particularly apt: the idea that growth is not linear, but cyclical.

This month’s cover shoot was shot in a 19th-century villa in Rome, close to the dome of St Peter that offers the most panoramic view of the Eternal City. She wears pieces from the Eclettica high jewellery collection—a striking conversation between art and imagination. Pia carries each one-of-a-kind creation with an effortless ease that feels natural to her role as brand ambassador. “Eclettica is just a burst of colour,” the style maven says. “I love how Bvlgari comes out with pieces you can [easily] style in different ways … it’s like wearing a piece of history with you.” She meets the camera with poise, embodying the magnificence of a woman grounded in reflection and unwavering self-confidence.

If there is a constant beneath everything, it is the drive that has propelled Pia from the very start. “I’ve always had that [in me],” she says. “I just need a little encouragement, a push—‘You have a shot at this, go for it.’ That’s all I need, and it energises me and keeps me moving.”

Rebirth, for Pia, isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about recognising that the strength, instinct and voice have always been present—simply waiting to be trusted. By choosing to listen to it now, fully and without hesitation, she moves forward not just as a reinvention but as a more complete version of herself.

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