TRANSCRIPT: Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi and other candidates' winning answers in Q&A segment

Pasay City's Celeste Cortesi has just been named Miss Universe Philippines 2022. Apart from her ravishing looks and unbounded confidence, the beauty queen impressed the judges with her wit, which she showed off during the pageant's final Q&A round.

Cortesi answered questions revealing her personality outside the runway from Miss Universe 2015 Pia Qurtzbach, who graced the event as on of its hosts. Apart from Cortesi, Wurtzbach also quizzed the other four candidates completing the Top 5: Anabelle McDonnell (Misamis Oriental), Michelle Dee (Makati), Ma. Katrina Llegado (Taguig), and Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol).

Read the beauty queens' winning answers below:

If you could stop time for a day, how would you spend it?

Cortesi: If I could stop time, I would spend it with my family, especially my mother. It’s been two years since I spent time with my family in Italy and I just came here by myself. So if I have a chance to spend one day, I would be with my mom and tell her how much I love her and miss her. Thank you.

What is your biggest insecurity and how do you address it?

McDonnell: My socio-economic status is one of the biggest insecurities that I had. Seven years ago, I was a marginalized orphan starving and trying to make her way through but now, when you see, think about how I work hard and strived hard to be here and conquer the universe.

What is your greatest fear and how do you try to overcome it?

Dee: Actually my greatest fear is making a fool of myself sometimes. But I conquered that by always putting myself in that situation. Actually joining a pageant was something that I was scared about because of the pressure but I am standing here in front of you hoping to be your next Miss Universe so I can make our country proud once again, ang minamahal kong Pilipinas.

If you could teach Filipinos one thing, what could it be and why?

Llegado: It could be start loving yourself. Me, as a person, I am not perfect. And I may not be the perfect Miss universe, but I am here, trying to conquer my fear, trying to be a better person. And pageant really helped me to be a transformed woman, to be uniquely beautiful and I think that is my greatest… Thank you.

What is that one life-changing decision that you’ve made and what was its impact in your life?

Amelinckx: The life-changing decision that I made was to join Miss Universe Philippines again. Despite being bashed before for my body, being doubted by people, I found strength in myself. And this story can be a testament for other people to draw strength from to, that a second chance can be as sweet, and that you can still be your ultimate self the second time around.