Binalikan ni Miss Universe Canada 2016 Siera Bearchell ang panahon nang maging isyu ang kanyang timbang sa Miss Universe 2016 pageant.
Ginanap ang 65th edition ng Miss Universe sa Pilipinas noong January 30, 2017.
Ang nanalo noon ay si Miss France Iris Mittinaere at si Pia Wurtzbach ang nagpasa ng korona.
Si Siera ay nakapasok sa Top 16 at Top 9 sa finals night, pero naging kontrobersyal siya noon dahil sa kanyang pangangatawan.
Tinawag siyang “plus size” at “overweight” kumpara sa traditional standards ng isang beauty queen, na kadalasang manipis ang pangangatawan.
Ibinahagi ni Siera na nagkomento pa ang isang former Filipina Miss Universe tungkol sa kanyang pangangatawan.
Ikinuwento ito ni Siera, na isa na ngayong pageant vlogger, sa kanyang YouTube video noong April 27, 2022.
Nabanggit ni Siera sa vlog na kinuha ng Elle Magazine India ang kanyang opinyon ukol kay reigning Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu na iniisyu ngayon sa kanyang timbang.
Hayag ni Siera, “To me, it’s a really sensitive topic because I’ve been in the shoes… of people saying I wasn’t good enough, people saying too big, too curvy, I needed to lose weight."
Sumunod niyang binanggit ang tungkol sa Pilipinang former Miss Universe na nagkomentong kailangan niyang magbawas ng timbang.
Sabi ni Siera, “In fact, some of you would know that actually a former Miss Universe from the Philippines… she was interviewed and she said that one of her favorite contestants for Miss Universe, was me—Miss Canada.
“But then I could use to lose eight pounds or 10 pounds or something…
“I mean I wasn’t really bothered by this whatever, I didn’t really care.”
Nagkataon pa raw na nakaharap ni Siera ang Filipina beauty titleholder.
Ganito raw ang naging eksena: “I did meet her, actually, at a gala event during Miss Universe.
“And I was very nice. I didn’t say anything about this interview.
“But I could tell she was kind of like, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.’”
Pero paniniwala ni Siera, “But everyone has different opinions and everyone has a different vision of what they think is beautiful, of what they think is accepted.”
Hindi pinangalanan ni Siera kung sino ang dating Miss Universe ang nagkomento tungkol sa kanya.
Pero sa comments section ng kanyang vlog ay sinabi ng netizens na ang tinutukoy ni Siera ay si Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, ang kauna-unahang Pilipinang nakakuha ng korona.
"Yes, I still remember it. I’ve seen it on TV. Ms. Gloria Diaz was asked by media and talked about your weight," komento ng isang netizen.
Paliwanag ng isa pa, naniniwala itong compliment ng pahayag ni Gloria para kay Siera.
"I think the comment of Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz was a compliment. She saw on her [Siera] the beauty and personality of a Miss Universe oh yes she should not say about her weight.”
Komento ng isa pa, kilala si Gloria sa pagiging prangka nito.
"Siera… MU Gloria Diaz is very straight forward when she provide opinion awesome she like you to win the crown," anang netizen.
SIERA ON HARNAAZ
Nauunawaan daw ni Siera ang pinagdadaanan ni Harnaaz dahil pareho sila ng karanasan.
“I was known for my body, which still feels so crazy to me,” lahad ni Siera.
Kung titingnan nga raw siya sa Google, ang lalabas ay isyu “about me being called plus-size, being called overweight.”
“Women were supposed to look a certain way, to win Miss Universe.”
Nagkakaroon daw ng katanungan sa mga isip ng tao kapag ang isang reigning titleholder ay nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa kanyang pangangatawan.
Pero naniniwala raw si Siera na nanalo si Harnaaz hindi dahil sa kanyang pangangatawan.
“She’s so amazing and so inspiring, so well-spoken.
“She won Miss Universe not because of her body, but because of who she is.
“She’s such a leader. If you listen to her speak, she moves people with he words.
“And that is to me, ultimately, what Miss Universe is all about.
“It’s about empowering women, inspiring people around the world," anang Canadian beauty queen.