WATCH: Miss Universe Malta Emotionally Opens Up About Grandmother’s Untimely Death And Pleads For Help For Her Home Country
Miss Universe Malta has already opened up about her and her family’s traumatic escape from Venezuela, where famine, violence and poverty are part of everyday life.
Now, a new highlight reel has revealed a clip of Teresa Ruglio speaking in depth about the horrors she saw and experienced in her homeland.
“I am asking you for support Malta, we need your help, Venezuela needs you,” Ruglio emotionally pled
Saying that people are always telling her how beautiful her country is, and how beautiful the women there are, she says that they really “have no idea what’s going on”.
“Because of the mismanagement of the country’s wealth, Venezuela’s economy has collapsed, Venezuela has the highest inflation in the world, making food and medicine inaccessible. It’s incredible,” she lamented.
“Venezuela is passing through a huge crisis at the moment. Venezuelan poverty has reached 82% of the population. 82% of the population!”
She also spoke about the mass protests that have seen thousands of Venezuelan people taking to the streets to demand change
“Venezuelans are protesting for their rights, they are protesting because of the violence of the government and the violence of the criminals. They are trying to defend their rights and aspire to a better Venezuela,” she said.
“But because of the corruption, the streets are very dangerous,” she continued, “people can’t find water or food, the supermarkets are empty. Children are eating from the garbage, and due to the lack of electricity a few days ago many people were dead in hospitals.”
At this point in the video, Teresa had to stop for a moment and compose herself as tears welled up in her eyes, before launching into the story of how her grandmother died.
“A few weeks ago, my grandmother died because she had a problem, and she couldn’t go to the hospital and nobody would give her the proper attention, and she passed away,” she said.
She reiterated her call for help and thanked Miss Universe Malta for giving her the opportunity to get her story and message out there.
“We really need your support and we are creating funds her around Malta to collect food and medicine to send to Venezuela. Venezuela, we are with you!”
She ended by quoting a part of the powerful 1940 Charlie Chaplin film, The Great Dictator.
“The power they took from the people, will return to the people.”
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