The World’s Most Beautiful Woman, Miss Universe Accorded A Hero’s Welcome Home

Despite an awkward crowning at the pageant in the U.S. by TV host Steve Harvey, the reigning Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, has returned home to the Philippines, receiving a hero’s welcome.
Confetti rained down as tens of thousands of shrieking fans paralyzed traffic in the Philippine capital to welcome home the newly crowned Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
The adoring crowd, many of whom stepped out of their offices and schools, jammed Manila’s streets and snapped photos of only the third Filipina to win the Miss Universe title. Many others screamed and waved at Wurtzbach from the windows of their high-rise offices as busloads of policemen were deployed to secure the homecoming parade.
Beauty pageants are incredibly popular in the nation of 100 million people, who seek heroes partly to uplift their spirits from crushing poverty, frequent natural disasters and crippling corruption.
Here are photos of the hero’s welcome;