Pia Jauncey Strips It Down

The multihyphenate fashion muse and Preview's May 2025 cover star is in competition with nobody else but the past versions of herself.

by Em Enriquez

Published on May 16, 2025

Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey is perpetually in airplane mode. Nowadays, her life is coded by multi-colored stamps on her passport and the minimal hours of sleep she can sneak in while 30,000 feet up in the air. During a particularly busy period last year, she was traveling from Manila to Dubai four times in the span of one week. Flight attendants rarely encounter such a frequent flyer. Her address was, quite literally, the world—or the universe, rather.

“It’s really adrenaline that keeps me going,” she softly speaks into my voice recorder during our interview. As we wrapped up her 10-hour Preview cover shoot in Pampanga, Pia was enrobed in an oversized black blazer, visage ever-so-defined by a bronzed complexion. Her body clock was already in shambles as it was, having deposited only an hour of rest the night prior, but you could feel a sense of accomplishment in her voice. She still astounds herself with what she can do.

As she puts it, “You'll be amazed at what your body can do when you really want to make it happen.”

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PIA JAUNCEY FOR PREVIEW MAY 2025 / PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

A woman whose entire career was about making “it” happen, Pia has always tackled things with her eyes wide open. Once defined by monumental triumphs and enough pageant drama to last us another millennium, the monarch wills herself into new kingdoms. It’s difficult to visualize Queen P as inept in anything—but behind the glitz and the glamor, the jetsetting and Instagram-ing, the luxe wardrobes and fashion week front-rows—is a girl who tries, and tries, and tries.

And if history is any indicator, persistence always works in her favor.

Eyes Wide Open

Once an ingénue actress known as Pia Romero, who wore the sash of Ms. Cagayan de Oro three consecutive times before finally proclaiming victory, she knows pretty well what it’s like being a rookie. A breadwinner at the age of 11, she was juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. In between inconclusive go-sees and auditions, she would manually set up a camera to take snaps of her modeling (or, at the very least, what her younger self assumed to be modeling).

Being in front of the camera became second nature to her, but it also came with its share of frustrations. In a household where only the bare essentials mattered, dressing up in stylish outfits was neither practical nor within reach. “I couldn't express myself through clothes… I wasn’t born exposed to [fashion], so I always looked at it from afar. It was [just something I aspired for],” she recalls. “Buying these ‘non-necessities,’ especially in the Philippines, wasn’t a priority.”

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

SHOP PIA'S LOOK: Serpenti Tubogas Watch; price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Serpenti Viper Ring, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Serpenti Viper Ring, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Keana Flat Sando, P3700, ZIV REI ALEXI, Instagram/zivreialexi

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Hubo Double Denim Jeans, P11,250, ḢA.MÜ, Instagram/_ha.mu_

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It was only later, when she came of age and had a little more financial freedom, that Pia finally found space to explore her personal style. Fashion awakened a sense of curiosity she had long suppressed. “I wondered what it would feel like to work with these brands, let alone afford them,” she says.

Come 2015, she didn’t have to wonder anymore. An Albert Andrada-clad Pia walked away from the Miss Universe stage a winner, personifying Pinoy pride in the process. The victory burst open floodgates of opportunities for her—in her words, “that’s when the fun started.”

Being the most confidently beautiful woman landed her on every designer and stylist’s wish list to dress. A doll constantly adorned with the world’s finest, Pia no longer had to rummage through her mom’s closet and makeup kit.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

Five years after altering the course of her life, Pia began to liberate herself from the doll house. Life was stable, but she yearned for more than just a change of scenery. “I felt like I was stuck in a hamster wheel. I was doing the same things over and over again. It was great… but I craved for something more,” she shares.

Entering the realm of luxury fashion felt like a natural progression for her. With her body of work as an actress, model, and beauty queen exposing her to the industry, Pia sought to express herself through the clothes on her back. With one high heel already in the door, it was something she just had to give a shot.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

Starting from square one is daunting as it is, especially when you’ve already reached multiple summits. But nothing was going to change for Pia unless she switched lanes. “I knew that starting all over again would come with its own set of challenges, [but] I thought to myself, ‘When am I ever going to give this a try?’” she recalls.

And try she did—most notably in 2022, when she began taking a more deliberate hand in shaping her style identity. “I was really starting to develop not just a vision, but also a voice. Because you can have the vision in your head, but you have to be able to express it,” she articulates.

Collaborating closely with her trusted stylists and being intentional about the brands she associates with, the 35-year-old has evolved from merely being dressed to becoming the driving force behind the image. No longer a doll to be styled, she operates like a well-calibrated engine—self-assured, purposeful, and in control.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

Pia’s most reliable companion throughout her jaunt into fashion is her gut. It’s something that’s guided her for the bulk of her life, and it hasn’t failed her since. It listens to her, and she listens back. She says, “I don’t give up on something if I have a feeling that I can do it, even when everyone else is telling me to drop it. I don’t let go [nor do I] back down.”

“If I just see a glimpse of hope, I will latch onto it until all doors shut on me. If there’s hope, I’ll always feel like there’s space for me.”

Losing No Sleep

Pia’s course of fashion domination kicked off on the streets of Paris and Milan in 2023. For most, it was a refreshing sight to see the glamazon enter a new space. But in Pia’s perspective, she was “a deer in headlights,” traversing unknown regions with nothing but a smize.

What followed was a series of reintroductions. “I really went in there thinking that I was new. I just wanted to meet as many people as I could,” she recounts to Preview. Her first Givenchy show came, then Gucci, followed by Fendi, and soon after, Prada. Each invitation felt like a first day of school on repeat—a cycle of fresh hellos and polite introductions. More than once, she found herself saying, “Hi, I’m Pia from the Philippines!”

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

SHOP PIA'S LOOK: Serpenti Viper Necklace, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Serpenti Viper Bracelet, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Crepe De Chine Nude Slip Dress, P40,298, SIMONE ROCHA, Univers One Rockwell

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Sheer Organza Pencil Skirt, P64,998, SIMONE ROCHA, Univers One Rockwell

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The Gumamela Heels in Shell White, P9,990, ELCRU, elcru.co

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It pulled her back to Earth after years of floating across the universe. “I knew full well that walking in there was a challenge because, for years, I was used to not having to introduce myself, and then suddenly, [I am] somewhere new,” she shares.

“They don’t know Miss Universe, and they probably don’t care either, so [I was going to] have to introduce myself as who I was [at that moment.] Who am I outside of pageants? What am I doing here? How do I want to position myself? How do I want them to remember me?”

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

In one of her forays into the scene, the 2015 titleholder made a bigger splash than she could have anticipated. After attending a couple of shows in September of 2023, the supposed fashion newcomer landed on top of several top influencers' lists. Terms like “media impact value” entered her lexicon—an industry metric used to quantify brand exposure across media platforms, as defined by analytics firm Launchmetrics.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Pia became one of the unexpected names generating buzz throughout the sartorial circuit. And if she were being honest, she admits feeling a little kilig seeing her name land near the top of those lists. “I was just happy to be there,” she puts it simply.

However, fashion week becoming a numbers game was neither something she expected nor desired. “I was surprised and a little bit taken aback, honestly,” she admits.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

The fact is, Pia is no stranger to winning. She’s built a prolific career on it. One might assume she thrives on rivalries, eager to reassert her place at the top. After all, she has a fiercely loyal following—legions of supporters ready to rally behind their Queen P. But is that in Pia Jauncey’s battle plan?

She inhales, looks over my shoulder, and blinks her eyes twice.

She faces back towards me, gently shakes her head, and exhales.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

“Like, come on, I just came from a competition a couple of years ago, I don't want to be in another one,” she illustrates. Perhaps unexpectedly, all the victories in the world didn’t grant Pia a sense of superiority. If anything, they grounded her. They made her realize her place in this world and how she has to keep up with how quickly it changes. After all, a crown loses its luster when worn by a stagnant soul.

It’s this self-awareness that drives her toward constant reinvention. Her only competition, therefore, is the former version of herself—the one who knew less but had more to prove. “The worst thing that you can do to yourself is to stop learning,” she shares. “Your pride [might stop you from] being an underdog again, but even the masters were once babies who knew nothing. It’s uncomfortable, but it's forced me to grow.”

Like the Serpenti coiled around her wrist, Pia sheds old skins to make room for new ones. As a Bulgari ambassador, she embodies the same philosophy: never stagnant, never rusting.

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PHOTOS: Borgy Angeles

SHOP PIA'S LOOK: Serpenti Tubogas Bracelet, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Serpenti Tubogas Ring, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Tubogas Bracelet, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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B.Zero1 Earrings, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3

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Interval Top (styled as a one-shoulder poncho), P18,000, RAJO MAN, The Rajo Store Shangri-la Plaza.

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Tiá Capri Pant in Abyss, P2100, OUR PARAISO, our-paraiso.com

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What Dreams Are Made Of

Perhaps a signifier of change in Pia’s current chapter is the surname she’s adopted. Mrs. Jauncey gets giddy talking about her beau, Scottish entrepreneur Jeremy Jauncey, and how he’s been integrated into all facets of her life. The two wed in 2023 on an idyllic Seychelles beach, with a guest list not exceeding 10 of their closest kin.

The name change was a big move. “We’re the Jaunceys now,” Pia puts it. “After a while, I started feeling like ‘Pia Wurtzbach’ didn’t feel right anymore.”

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

SHOP PIA'S LOOK: Bvlgari Bvlgari Lady Watch, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3.

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Lace Medyas, P300, MUNIMUNI, munimunistudio.com

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Uphi Top in Liquid Myrtia Grey, P51,698, CECILIE BAHNSEN, Univers One Rockwell.

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XXL Bubble Skirt Belt, P12,990, ḢA.MÜ, Instagram/_ha.mu_

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The Gumamela Heels in Deep Blush, P9,990, ELCRU, elcru.co.

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Of course, the decision to take on a partner’s surname is a personal one, and often made on a case-to-case basis. For Pia, it’s about laying the groundwork for the kind of family life she envisions. “One day when we have kids, I would want them to see that we share the same last name as their dad. It's a bit of a traditional move for Jeremy, but it doesn't really bother me,” she explains.

At 35 years old, Pia is simultaneously getting started with a new career and also pacing towards a secure family life. After all, it’s been more than 20 years of hustling. Her 11-year-old self wouldn’t have been able to anticipate what was to come, primarily because that iteration of herself was too busy providing for her family. In retrospect, the younger Pia was also out to prove her worth.

“I was working to meet a certain standard. I would feel like I failed my family if I didn't get booked for another project, because how were we going to pay the rent then? If I wasn't able to provide, I would feel like it was my fault, you know,” she narrates.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

That little girl from Cagayan de Oro was wired to perform excellently in order to hear the words “good job,” “I’m proud of you,” and “I love you.” That little girl eventually grew up, unconsciously looking for the same validation from different outlets.

“It's addictive,” the 35-year-old version of the little girl says. “You get that hit and then you [look for it from] strangers, fans, and people you don't even know. You get it from unhealthy places and unhealthy relationships because you're latching onto hope and to people and to things.”

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

When Jeremy entered the picture, a glimmer of an unbothered and healthy future hanging above him, that little girl finally let her guard down. “Jeremy doesn't care how many covers I do. He doesn't care how many endorsement shoots I close or how beautiful I look in a gown,” Pia says.

“Sometimes when I don't have any makeup on and I'm just in my pajamas, I ask him, ‘Are you okay with this?’ and he's like, ‘What are you talking about? This is you.’”

It may be difficult for some to grasp, but the grand image of Pia Wurtzbach that lives in the public imagination is built, in part, on foundations of insecurity, doubt, and loneliness. Beneath the polished exterior is a woman shaped by years of carrying the weight of being a breadwinner, losing to competitions, and relentlessly trying to prove—to herself and to the universe—that she was worthy of love. “Sounds sad, but that’s the truth,” she admits.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

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Serpenti Viper ring, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3.

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Tubogas Necklace, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3.

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Tubogas Bracelet, price unavailable, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3.

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Deconstructed Asymmetrical Tie Dress, price available upon request, NOVEL, Instagram/novelworldwide.

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But the Pia Jauncey we have now is shaking those burdens off, little by little, as she allows herself to just be. Unabashed and unguarded, Pia is stripping herself of any pressure to act a certain way or to meet any expectations. “That's a feeling you can't buy,” she states. “Even if my whole house was filled with all the shoes and bags that I dreamed of, or if I had all of the crowns and titles that I dreamed of..."

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

At her barest, Pia shows up for herself. And she’ll keep showing up for herself wherever life takes her—whether that’s 30,000 feet up in the air or inside a cozy home she can firmly call her own. One day, when things have finally run their course, she can hit the pause button.

But for now, she keeps going, and going, and going, and trying, and trying, and trying. That’s just second nature to her.

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PHOTO: Borgy Angeles.

PHOTOS: Bea Felice Panganiban

Produced and Styled by the Preview Team

Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente

Creative Director: Bacs Arcebal

Managing Editor/Producer: Reg Rodriguez

Assoc. Multimedia Director: Jana Jodloman

Photographed by Borgy Angeles, assisted by Pao Mendoza and Rojan Maguyon. Styled by Paulina Singh, assisted by Kyla Villena. Makeup by Justin Louise Soriano, assisted by Khino Ocenar. Hairstyle by Jeck Aguilar. Set design by AdSet Prod. Cover story by Em Enriquez. Video direction by Jana Jodloman, shot by Teddy Garcia Jr. and Greeko Junio. BTS photos by Bea Felice Panganiban. Social media coverage by Sophia Rosello. Shot on location at Lakeshore Pampanga. Special thanks to Jesha Abad of Bulgari Philippines.

Em Enriquez is queer and probably daydreaming somewhere. They're an associate editor at Preview who can't live without pop music and lemon-tinted sunnies.