From one inspiration to another.
Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach took to Instagram to praise and defend 19-year-old Mirella Paz Baylon, the 2016 Miss Peru contestant who made headlines around the world for being the pageant’s first ever plus-size candidate.
In an Instagram post, the 26-year-old Pinay beauty queen — who was one of the judges — described Mirella as an “inspiration” and “the one who made a statement” in the Miss Peru pageant last Sat, Apr 23.
“I applaud this girl for fighting for what she wants. That’s what it’s all about. Happy to know that we’ll be seeing Mirella again at the next Miss Peru pageant! Felicedades! Your presence alone on that stage made a huge statement globally. Congratulations,” Pia said.
It was Valeria Piazza who was named Miss Peru 2016.
Like the Philippines, Peru is big on beauty pageants. The country has been participating in the Miss Universe pageant since 1952 and the Miss World pageant since 1959. So you can only the imagine the buzz over Mirella’s entry.
“The curvaceous beauty queen had previously spoken of how she had been tormented by fellow students over her size and shape,” the Daily Mail said.
“Every time I saw models on TV, I wanted to be there, inside the screen. But I also felt intimidated due to my body size, and because I got a lot of bullying over my weight at school,” Mirror quoted Mirella as to saying.
During a press conference before the Miss Peru pageant, Pia said Mirella may not be “what society’s standards are of a beauty queen should be” but she “shows what a real woman is.”
Pia even shared how she was considered as one of the heaviest candidates during the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas pageant!
Watch Pia talk about Mirella in the video below:
