Wurtzbach joined the Binibining Pilipinas Pageant three times before winning the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title . During Binibining Pilipinas 2013 , she was named as the 1st Runner-up . She joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2014 , but only placed in the top 15 . A controversy erupted when she failed to win any title following her question-and-answer portion . She was asked a question in Tagalog by a Filipino judge , Senator Sonny Angara , which she answered in Tagalog . Online commentators wondered if the question and answer in Tagalog cost her points from the international judges and , therefore , any title that year . On her third attempt for the title in 2015 , she won the highest title , Miss Universe Philippines and went on to compete in the Miss Universe 2015 Pageant . During the question and answer portion of the pageant she was asked by then-Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo : " Social media is now a very powerful tool on communication . Can you tell us your thoughts about internet censorship ? " She answered : Wurtzbach represented the Philippines in the 2015 Miss Universe contest held on December 20 , 2015 in Las Vegas , Nevada , United States . During the first question and answer round , Wurtzbach was asked by host Steve Harvey , " earlier this year , there was a controversy in the Philippines about the United States reopening a military base in your country . Do you think the United States should have a military presence in your country ? " Wurtzbach answered : In the final question and answer portion , the top three contestants were asked the same question by Harvey : " Why should you be the next Miss Universe ? " and she replied : Wurtzbach 's answer references the pageant 's motto " Confidently Beautiful " . At the end of the show , host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner . However , after Gutiérrez 's crowning , Harvey returned to the stage and stated that he had misread the results and that Wurtzbach was really Miss Universe 2015 . Paulina Vega ( Miss Universe 2014 ) then removed the crown from Gutiérrez 's head and placed it on Wurtzbach 's head
for the title in 2015
Binibining Pilipinas 2015
Pia Wurtzbach