EDITORS DESK
Fresh from her successful stint at the 70th Miss Universe Competition in Israel, Beatrice Luigi Gomez has arrived home safe and sound.
Bea may not have won the Miss Universe crown for the Philippines, but her top five finish in the prestigious competition is enough to bring pride and honor to Filipino pageant fans during this time of uncertainty.
Her performance solidifies the Philippines as a powerhouse in the pageant, as it marked the 12th year in a row that a Filipina has consistently landed in the semifinals of the competition. The last time a Filipina made it to the semis was in 2018 when Catriona Gray won Miss Universe in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bea exuded elegance and confidence on a world-class platform. Yet it wasn't an easy journey for her on the Miss Universe stage considering the threat of COVID-19 is still around. With prayers and luck, Bea has added another feather to her cap.
Bea made history when she became the first member of the LGBTQ plus community to win the Miss Universe Philippine title. Pageant fans hailed her for breaking the barriers in the competition.
“I guess what makes me beautiful is my bravery and being true to myself. To tell you guys, honestly, I have a girlfriend. I have tattoos, and I am proud of my imperfections. I guess that is what makes me beautiful," she said.
The Miss Universe Philippines Organization said in a statement that it is proud of what Bea has achieved. "Thank you for bringing glory to our country. We are very proud of you!" Currently taking up a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication at the University of San Jose, Bea is passionate about social welfare, working on outreach programs for the most vulnerable communities in Cebu City.
She is a community development worker, a Philippine Navy Marines Reservist under the 82nd Marine Battalion Reserve of the Naval Reserve Center of Eastern Visayas, and was appointed president of Rotaract Club of Metro Mandaue 2006, a Rotary-sponsored service club and a non-profit organization that aims to address the concerns of the community, enhance the professional and leadership skills of an individual, and promote good relations between all people worldwide.
Hours before she flew back to Manila on Tuesday, Bea met with some members of the Philippine pageant press via Zoom. Bea revealed that she was really aiming for the title, and she really gave her best. “I know how hard I worked. For me, my best wasn’t just limited to Top 16 or Top 10. I was really aiming for the crown." Bea said she was proud and satisfied with her performance. However, she admitted she was surprised that her question in the question-and-answer portion. "I have no regrets about my performance. I gave it my all. But I wasn't expecting that my question would be something political. I just thought about my core values and what my stand was. I believe I did well in the Q&A portion. It's just that I got nervous." While this 26-year-old Cebuana beauty queen truly gave joy and excitement to Filipinos, let's not forget the fashion designers and glam teams who nurtured the girls into what they are now. Kudos to their unwavering commitment and dedication for making them shine on the Miss Universe stage in Israel.
She also thanked those who believe in her as a beauty queen. "I am indebted to the people who rallied with me in my causes and in my journey to represent my community and to shed light on the diversity of women. Through the effort, patience, and discipline of everyone involved we were able to surpass every obstacle to continue the yearly tradition of celebrating the strength of every phenomenal woman in our country." Bea is the second openly gay candidate in the 70-year history of the Miss Universe Competition. The first one was Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce, who competed in 2018. She became the first transgender woman to ever participate in the international competition. She did not place, but she was honored with a special spot during the finals.
Congratulations, Bea! May you continue to inspire others and be a strong voice for diversity.
(Robert R. Requintina is the Entertainment Editor of Manila Bulletin)