Reigning Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi Praises Pia Wurtzbach's Advocacy Efforts

After hearing her story, the South African beauty queen said: "I really love that you're doing that. You have so many followers and it's nice that you see it as a responsibility to use your platform to help others and spread this positivity and light as well. And that's just incredible."

"You said, 'I'm a Miss Universe with a heart,' and I absolutely love that you meant it. Even many years later, you're still living it," she added, observing that Wurtzbach has also been sharing tips and other information about the COVID-19 pandemic to her fans on her Instagram page.

Reigning Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi Praises Pia Wurtzbach's Advocacy Efforts

"It's fantastic that you're doing what you're doing... We appreciate your help so much, queen!"

Wurtzbach, who was crowned Miss Universe in 2015, for her part thanked Tunzi, saying she is looking forward to the rest of her reign.

"I'm not lying, I cried, like I was tearing up, when you won [Miss Universe] I really felt that you had a voice and you had a message that just needed to be heard," she said, adding that she hopes to welcome Tunzi to the Philippines when the situation starts to get better.

The Filipina beauty queen also lauded the Miss Universe Organization's #UniverseUnited social media campaign, which she has been supporting since its launch.

"Those who don't have enough or can't donate but want to help, I really think this hashtag #UniverseUnited is so useful because it's a page where people can talk to each other and share stories," she said.

Meanwhile, when asked if she thinks the government is doing enough during the crisis, Wurtzbach replied: "Honestly, I feel like... it's not enough. There's so much more that we could be doing. I see what the government has been doing and what they've already done -- I see that, too. But I also think that there could be more."