MANILA – Jessy Mendiola finally broke her silence after drawing flak for joking that she beat Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzabach for the title of "Sexiest Woman in the Country."

(READ: Pia defends Jessy after actress' joke draws flak)

In an interview with ABS-CBN News and other reporters on Sunday, Mendiola said she just laughed off the criticism because she knows that her comment was just taken out of context.

“Nung nabalitaan ko nga, natawa na lang ako na parang, 'really?' Ganoon niyo nakita iyon at narinig iyon? Wala naman akong sinabing sobrang sama para magalit yung taumbayan sa akin,” she said.

“Para sa akin kasi, at that moment, nag-joke ako na ‘Shucks, talo ko pa si Pia sa trato sa akin ngayon.’ What I meant was 'yung context na grabe 'yung overwhelming feeling. Grabe 'yung trato niyo sa akin bilang parang queen na din,” she added.

Mendiola said she appreciates that Wurtzbach came to her defense because it was never really her intention to belittle the reigning Miss Universe.

“I asked some of my friends na friends din niya to extend my gratitude. Ang sweet nga niya to tweet that. Kung siya nga nakita niya as a joke 'yun, bakit parang other people won’t see that as a joke?” she said.

Mendiola also responded to comments alleging that fame immediately got into her head.

“Sa pagkakaalam ko, hindi ako nagmayabang. Pangalawa, wala naman akong nilait na tao o kaya minaltrato. Siguro for me, why do people hate others who are just confident with themselves? Sa panahon ngayon, instead of us women helping each other to stand up and be strong, tayo pa 'yung [nagsisiraan]. Kapag nakita natin 'yung flaw niya, ididiin pa natin,” she said.

Last week, Wurtzbach took to Twitter to congratulate Mendiola over the “sexiest woman” tag amid the criticism being thrown at the actress.

“What I saw was a girl who was just really ecstatic to be given that recognition. Nothing wrong with that. Congratulations, Jessy!” she said.

Mendiola and Wurtzbach are both artists of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic.