Bow down to Queen Pia in Singapore!
Pia Wurtzbach did not just conquer the Miss Universe stage in 2015, but she also made history within the halls of Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. As the first Filipino and first beauty queen ever immortalized in wax at the renowned museum's Hong Kong location, Wurtzbach's figure stands out as a symbol of national pride and her enduring influence. Beginning March 23rd, fans of Queen P can now see her lifelike creation at Madame Tussauds Singapore–the new home of her wax figure.
We have the inside scoop from Madame Tussauds on making Pia Wurtzbach’s beautiful wax figure. Let's take a closer look at this incredible wax replica and how it was created.
1. Pia Wurtzbach is such an icon along with Catriona Grey as strong Filipino beauty queens. How did Madame Tussauds come up with choosing Pia as the first Filipino wax figure?
Before we decide on the next wax figure to produce, we always turn to our guests and also industry partners to understand who it is that our guests in the region wish to see, through guest polls and social media surveys. As there are a lot of Filipinos living in Hong Kong and Singapore, and also many visiting this little red dot, we wanted someone who appealed to the Filipino community and has a positive impact on them. Pia was someone who really stood out, as not only was she influential, but she also engages with her fans as well and can easily connect with anyone she meets.
2. What were Pia’s first reactions to finding out she will be a wax figure in Madame Tussauds Singapore?
Being the very first icon from the Philippines to be immortalized in Madame Tussauds, Pia was filled with pride and anticipation for what her wax figure would look like. She also reminisced and shared about the times she would visit the attraction herself and expressed just how excited she is to become a part of the wax figure lineup. Pia’s wax figure captured her unforgettable winning moment in Miss Universe 2015 which made it even more special for the beauty queen.
3. How was the collaboration process like with Pia Wurtzbach when making her wax figure?
Creating Pia’s wax figure was an incredibly smooth process from start to finish. We appreciate how easy the collaboration was between her team and ours. Detailed measurements were taken at the start of the process to ensure that her wax figure would be as close as possible to Pia in real life. When the first was first launched in Hong Kong in 2019, Pia’s reaction to the wax figure spoke volumes as it was a testament to the accuracy and lifelike quality of the wax figure. It was really rewarding for the whole team to be a part of that.
4. How long does it take to create figures in Madame Tussauds?
It typically takes from 6 months to a year, depending on many factors such as complexity of the figure pose to the figure’s outfit.
5. What is the hardest part with getting the likeness of a person as a Madame Tussauds wax figure?
As much as we can, we prefer to take measurements of the celebrity for accuracy. However there are times when a figure is produced from research, such as a historical figure that hasn’t been measured and photographed by us personally. This can be difficult because we are restricted by the amount of reference material we can find online or in archives. As every little thing about a person’s face, body, hair, and style contributes to their likeness, we try our best to capture the total essence of what people think the celebrity looks like.
6. What is the easiest step in the process?
Creating a wax figure with great accuracy in its likeness is not an easy task, but this is only possible as we have a wonderfully talented, passionate, and collaborative production team making the figures. Hence, teamwork is the smoothest part of the process.
7. How does Madame Tussauds settle on a pose for the wax figure?
When deciding how a celebrity’s figure should be depicted, we aim for a pose that is both interactive and reflective of their personality and signature movements. For Pia, we really wanted to capture the magic of her Miss Universe 2015 win but allow our guests to share in the joy of that moment by having Pia hold the crown for the guest to wear. She was kind enough to agree to the pose, and it is great fun for guests who love to be crowned!
8. Any message to Pia Wurtzbach or Miss Universe fans in the PH who are planning to go to Madame Tussauds Singapore?
Madame Tussauds Singapore is excited to welcome Filipinos from around the world to visit us and come see Pia’s amazing lifelike figure, to be crowned by the queen herself and revel in that moment of winning and living your dream. Pia’s figure will be placed alongside many other strong female personalities such as Michelle Yeoh, Serena Wiliams, Dua Lipa, Audrey Hepburn and many more. Fans can enjoy a variety of immersive and interactive experiences under one roof, and get close to more than 80 incredible figures.
Madame Tussauds Singapore celebrates her 10th year anniversary this year, and is kicking off celebrations with a slew of exciting figure launches, activities and promotions throughout the year.
