By Annalyn S. Jusay
Actress Gloria Diaz finally broke her silence on the Miss Universe 2025 controversy, acknowledging that the pageant she once considered reputable is now facing credibility issues.
Miss Universe 1969 and actress Gloria Diaz (Instagram)
“It’s unfortunate. Miss Universe had a very credible reputation before,” Miss Universe said when interviewed before the mediacon of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 entry "Rekonek," directed by Jade Castro.
Calling the situation “one of a kind” and “a little bit off the proper track,” she attributed the disorder to new management within the Miss Universe Organization.
“Maybe they’re just beginners,” she remarked. “Parang nowadays, it’s very… I think magulo sila (they’re disorganized). Unfortunately, it’s that way. Kasi hindi naman sila ganun dati (the org was not like that before).”
Gloria, as Miss Universe 1969, didn’t mince words about what she believes is happening internally. “I feel that there are too many cooks. Ang daming nakikialam (too many people are meddling),” she said. “Dapat, there’s one president who makes the rules, whether it be biased or not, para hindi magulo. (There should be one leader who makes the rules so that it's not chaotic.)"
The country's first Miss Universe also urged the organization to return to using judges who are “credible” and “beyond reproach,” saying that, in her era, those selected had no agenda. “ They should get more credible judges. During my time, the judges were really beyond reproach. No agenda. Parang ganun eh. But this has been going on for some time. It’s only now that it seems a little bit more obscene.”
When asked about Ahtisa Manalo's third runner-up placement in Miss Universe this year, Gloria advised: "She can try again next year. Yun naman ang uso. Pwede ’yan. Kahit sampung beses ka pa (That’s the trend now. It’s allowed, even up to 10 times).”
Ms. Gloria Diaz (fifth from left, seated) is the senior star of 'Rekonek,' the official MMFF entry of Reality Studios, which follows six families spending Christmas Eve without internet due to a worldwide outage.
She also weighed in on Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch’s win, saying beauty pageants often come down to elements that extend beyond facial beauty.
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. But many times, it’s not because you’re beautiful or you’re not beautiful. It’s because you’re lucky. So maybe she was the lucky one,” she noted.
Gloria added, "It's sad." The new Miss Universe faced a lot of backlash. “She’s also beautiful. Pero pinagtulungan din siya (people ganged up on her). Maraming nag-abandon sa kanya. (A lot of people abandoned her.)”
Speculation has circulated online about the possibility of Bosch's dethronement or resignation, but Gloria observed that the new Miss Universe should hold on to her crown.
“Bakit siya mag-dethrone? Kung ako ’yan, kapit-tuko (I’d cling to it),” she said with a laugh. “Lahat naman sila deserve (They all deserve it). Pero tayong mga Pilipino, siyempre we love our own. (For us Filipinos, of course, we love our own).”
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