Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach joins the United Nations family as Goodwill Ambassador on HIV/AIDS for the Asia Pacific. Pia will take the lead in awareness-raising and advocacy for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
In the launch program on May 3, UNAIDS Director for Asia and the Pacific Steven Krauss announced Pia’s new role. According to an Inquirer report, with this new role, she continues her advocacy for HIV/AIDS awareness which she started when she was crowned Miss Universe.
Pia Wurtzbach: Bold, Brave and Honest
During the program which was covered by News5, Krauss points out an important life lesson that Pia teaches. He said that her journey to get the Miss Universe crown shows the importance of trying and trying until one succeeds.
Krauss also commended Pia for being “bold, brave and honest” and for speaking out for people who do not have a voice in society. He also called her the best kind of champion for the HIV/AIDS awareness cause. With Pia’s commitment, he hopes that it will help the UN achieve its goal of eradicating AIDS by 2030.
Honored To Be Part Of The UN
Pia herself is excited with her new role. Taking to social media, she shared the news to her fans and the public. One Instagram post shows her with Krauss, officially signing her commitment to the AIDS awareness program.
Speaking at the launch, Pia said that she was happy to be part of an important cause. During her reign as Miss Universe, she already took on AIDS awareness as one of her advocacies, and as goodwill ambassador, she is elated that she can continue this in the Philippines.
Acknowledging that she is not an expert on HIV/AIDS, she calls herself a messenger for the cause. Her main goal is to spread awareness on taking preventive measures, knowing one’s status and getting oneself tested.