Tania Dawson, 24, is hitting two birds with one stone while currently in the Philippines. Aside from representing New Zealand in Miss Universe 2016, she is also finding her Filipino roots in Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach's home country.
Born and raised in a rural town called Waiuku, Dawson is a daughter of a Kiwi man and a Filipino woman named Margarita Palabay. The mother was originally from Pangasinan, Philippines.
"Given I'm half-Filipino, a lot of media profiled me and are taking more of an interest," Stuff quoted Dawson as saying. "And they are keen to link me to my mum's village."
If Wurtzbach crowns Dawson as her successor, the latter will become the second Miss New Zealand to be crowned Miss Universe. The first and only one is Miss Universe 1983 Lorraine Downes.
Steve Harvey is returning as the host of the coronation night with "America's Next Top Model" judge Ashley Graham as the backstage host. The former arrived in Manila on Jan. 28, Saturday, ABS-CBN News reported.
The judging panel during the coronation night includes Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen from India and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola. Joining them are theatrical, TV and film producer Francine LeFrak, Paper Magazine editorial director Mickey Boardman and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Cynthia Bailey.
On Jan. 18, Wurtzbach participated in a dinner program in Baguio City, Philippines, which was hosted by Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup. Distinguished people of the city welcomed them along with some Miss Universe 2016 candidates including Dawson.
It was not Dawson's first time to visit Baguio City. In fact, her parents met in the 1980s in the city, which was also her mother's birthplace.
