Pia Wurtzbach is first Filipino to have own wax figure at Madame Tussauds

Pia poses with Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan at yesterday's event in Kowloon Bay (PCG photo)

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach will be the first Filipino to have her own wax figure at the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum at The Peak this April.

Wurtzbach met with members of the HK Filipino community yesterday (February 17) at the Star Hall of the Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (KITEC) in a pre-launch even that was organized by Madame Tussauds and the Philippine Consulate General.

“I can’t wait to have my wax figure here. I really can’t imagine that I will be part of this,” Pia said.

Vice Consul Robert Quintin said the consulate agreed to partner with Madame Tussauds because this was the first time that it was making a wax statue of a Filipino.

“This is a first so it is special and so we agreed to have this,” Quintin said.

He said Wurtzbach’s wax statue would be unveiled in Manila next month before it is added to the gallery of wax statues of famous celebrities like Madonna, Mahatma Gandhi, The Beatles, Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Princess Diana.

Quintin said Madame Tussauds had a survey and the results showed that Wurtzbach was on top of the list of Filipino celebrities.

“Our Filipino guests have always been very important to us and we’ve always believed we should have a Filipino wax figure, so we’re very pleased to have Ms. Pia Wurtzbach mark this milestone with us,” Madame Tussauds General Manager Jenny You said earlier.

“Leading up to this moment, we of course did our own research, and this is our way to showing the Filipino community living and visiting Hong Kong as well as our neighbor (Southeast Asian) cities that we heard them well,” You said.

“With Pia’s sweet, positive and fun personality, we really could not have imagined having anyone but her to represent the Philippines in this way and what better way to share this milestone but on her birthday,” she added.

Jay Martinez and Jun “Tita Kerry” Paragas hosted the event yesterday while the Hong Kong Musicians Union and Prime Credit Superstars Daphne, Archie, Jerick, and Jing provided the music during the event.

“More than being a queen, (Pia) has all the makings of an icon and we’re proud to be able to house her wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong for the rest of the world to be able to interact with,” You said.

During the event, Pia talked about being chosen by Madame Tussauds and gamely had her picture taken with her adoring Filipino fans.

“When I found out, I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it! In my head, this is something only happens to big stars,” Pia said earlier.

“I go to Madame Tussauds, so I know what it’s like and how fun it is there. And now, thinking that I’m going to be one of them, I’m very honored, I’m very grateful, and I can’t wait to see it,” she added.

The audience were shown a video of how Pia went through the measurement process—also known as a ‘sitting’—for her wax figure with the team from London.

Before the sitting, she wanted to know how it would go so she researched what goes into the making of a wax figure and at first thought she’d have to be put in a tub of wax.

“It was really quite a process and it’s so high tech! One second they were only taking a photo of my face then next thing I know, I see my face from different angles so instantly. It’s amazing,” she said.

Pia got a look at the different elements used in most wax figures and even goofed around with eyeballs and different hair colours.

“The team is so good and professional at what they do. They even did this process with Queen Elizabeth II,” she said.