by ABS-CBN News
Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Imelda Schweighart has broken her silence after a video of her accusing newly crowned Miss Earth Katherine Espin of undergoing cosmetic surgery went viral online.
In a phone interview with CNN Philippines on Monday, Schweighart said she is sorry for making “unmindful statements,” explaining that what she said was “supposed to be private.”
The Filipino-German beauty queen, however, did not retract her statements, stressing that she is “telling the truth.”
READ: PH-Earth accuse Miss Earth 2016 winner of having fake boobs
“Hindi ko naman mini-mean na malait siya (I didn’t mean to insult her),” she said. “Actually, she said it herself. But how I said it was so unmindful… and if it’s a crime to tell the truth, I’m sorry.”
“[I’m sorry] for my unmindful statements… People are feasting over me, judging me like they haven’t done anything wrong in their lives,” she added.
Schweighart said she felt betrayed because someone took a video of her during a “private” moment with her supporters.
“I was talking to my supporters, thinking I would be comfortable with them… They went there to support me, they know what I have been through, the hurt I have been through in this pageant,” she said.
“Akala ko lang they would understand (I thought they would understand), but someone took a video from afar and posted [it] online, a side of me that everyone has,” she added. “It was supposed to be private, but they put it out in public.”
HURT, BUT NOT BITTER
Schweighart stressed that she was not feeling any bitterness over Espin’s victory, but admitted that she felt hurt when she saw the Ecuadorian beauty queen wearing the gown that was made for her.
She explained that her statements toward Espin were made “in the heat of the moment.”
“Honestly, I’m not bitter. I’m just offended. Why? Because the gown that I was supposed to wear was given to Ecuador. I was fitted the gown. I was just so offended. That time, I’m still in the heat of the moment, the gown that was placed in Miss Philippines’ cubicle was taken. That box, my gown named after me… I wasn’t able to wear it. Even Miss Guam made me borrow her gown… because I have nothing to wear,” she said.
When asked why the gown was taken from her and given to Espin, Schweighart replied: “According to the designer, he didn’t finish the gown of Miss Katherine and binigay na lang niya ‘yung gown ko (and he just gave her my gown).”
“[I was hurt] because it wasn’t explained to me at the time. It was just taken away from me. I have nothing to wear… Hindi na nga nila ako inaasikaso, ‘yung bags ko ako nagbibitbit lahat, ako nagpapagod lahat, ako bina-bash lahat (they weren’t attending to me, I was carrying all of my bags, I was tired and I was always criticized).”
She continued: “They judged me that I have a bad attitude. Seriously, I wouldn’t be here in this industry if I have a bad attitude because I wouldn’t endure the pain if I am what they say I am.”
‘WE NEED TO TALK’
In a separate interview with CNN Philippines, Miss Earth pageant organizer Lorraine Schuck did not directly comment on the issue, only saying that she and Schweighart “need to talk.”
Schuck, who is the executive vice president of Carousel Productions, said she has been trying to contact Schweighart but could not reach her.
“I still need to talk to her. I’ve been trying to reach her since yesterday,” she said.
“We really need to talk to her because… May mga naririnig lang ako (I’ve been hearing things), but, you know, I really have to confirm it,” she added.
“Marami lang na tumatawag sa akin kung ano ang mga naka-post… hindi ko naman kasi nakikita lahat so medyo clueless pa ako diyan (Many people have been calling me about the things that have been posted… I haven’t seen everything so I’m still quite clueless about it).”
