MANILA — Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz is making waves on social media for her questions during the Binibining Pilipinas 2024 coronation night held Sunday.

During the Top 15 Q&A portion, Diaz asked Roella Solis of Calumpit, Bulacan: “What physical asset do you have that should make you win Binibining Pilipinas?”

“As a beauty queen and as a woman of vision, I am here to present you the best version of myself despite having a pivotal loss. Eight days ago, my grandmother died and I know that she is in heaven, watching me and proud of me that she has the best seat in heaven watching me over. Thank you,” Solis responded.

Diaz pressed on and asked Solis anew: “What physical asset do you have?”

“What physical asset do I have is I am beautiful, aside from that, I have a mission and vision in life that makes me apart from the other candidates,” the contestant added.

Diaz’s question to Pampanga’s bet Jasmin Bungay is also making waves online as it goes: “If you were given 30 minutes to talk to the public, what would you talk about?”

The beauty queen responded by pushing for the passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill, and stressed how the LGBT community has helped the pageant industry.

“If I would be given 30 minutes to talk to the public, I would like to talk about the passing of the SOGIESC (Equality) Bill. Because in celebrations such as pageants, this community has contributed so much and in this regard we can give back to them by supporting this cause because as an individual, it is our responsibility that we ensure that everyone is treated equally despite their SOGIE,” she said.

Bungay will aim for the Philippines’ third Miss Globe crown after the victories of Ann Lorraine Colis in 2015 and Maureen Montagne in 2021.

ABS-CBN News caught with Diaz before the end of the show and she said, “Hard ba yun? Ang dali-dali na nga.”

Her co-judge and seatmate at the panel, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, said, “Minsan kasi ‘yung mga tanong na simpleng pakinggan, ‘yun ang mas mahirap.”

But Diaz insists that her questions are easy to answer. “Sabi ko ang dali-dali, sabi ko this is an easy question. ‘Di ba that’s what I said. Mahirap ba yun?”

This is not the first time that Diaz has been the talk of the town when it comes to her difficult questions. She has been a staple and a favorite to judge bigtime beauty pageants. 

Back in 2006, Binibining Pilipinas candidate Jeannie Anderson had to answer Diaz’s tricky question: “If you were given a chance to choose to become beautiful but not too smart or very smart and not too beautiful, what would you prefer to be and why?”

When Andersen seemed to be confused with the question, Diaz simplified it and said: “Beautiful but not too smart, basically not stupid but not too smart but very smart but not too beautiful.”  

“What would you rather be, beautiful or smart?”

This moment led to one of viral Philippine pageant moments with Andersen saying “Quiet, please” to the crowd before answering the question. “Well, I’d rather choose to be beautiful because to be beautiful, it’s natural but being smart, you can learn a lot of things, you can learn from the experience, you can learn a lot of things to be smart.”

Andersen ended her journey in the Top 15 of Binibining Pilipinas 2001.