By Alex Y. Vergara
Is the universe ready for its first openly lesbian representative from the Philippines? Organizers and judges behind the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) 2021 think so, as they crowned 26-year-old Beatrice “Bea” Luigi Gomez as the new MUP.
After months-long search, which culminated Thursday evening at the grand ballroom of Hennan Resort Alona Beach in Bohol, Beatrice bested 27 other contestants, including fan favorites such as pageant veteran Katrina Dimaranan from Taguig and model Maureen Christa Wroblewitz from Pangasinan, for the coveted crown.
The self-described volleyball athlete, community organizer and army reservist is also an LGBTQIA+ activist from Cebu City. Prior to joining MUP, Beatrice won Miss Mandaue in 2015 and Binibining Cebu in 2020. She pursued a degree in Mass Communication at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, but has yet to finish her course.
Wearing a blue, fully-beaded gown with a Venus neckline by Furne Amato, Beatrice was also one of the evening’s most awarded candidates, winning a number of special awards, including Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown.
Asked by host KC Montero during the make-or-break final question “if during your reign as Miss Universe Philippines, things happen in your life that make you sad and uninspired, how would you be able to continue inspiring others,” Bea said: “It is very evident that all of us went through difficulties during this pandemic. But it is also proof that we are able to rise to the occasion and if anything happens to me during my reign, I will not give up and inspire others by rising to the problems that I am encountering and by inspiring them that whatever you’re going through you will be able to overcome it.”
Last year’s Philippine bet Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo, the first winner since MUP became part of a new franchise led by its current national director, former Miss Universe Philippines Shamcey Supsup-Lee, passed on the crown to her successor.
New titles such as MUP Tourism and MUP Charity were up for grabs this year. But only Bea will get to represent the country abroad, as she flies to Eliat, Israel in December to compete in Miss Universe.
She edged out Katrina and pageant newbie Victoria Vincent from Cavite, who settled for MUP Tourism and MUP Charity, respectively. Maureen placed first runner-up, while Steffi Rose Aberasturi, another Cebuana representing Cebu Province, settled for second runner-up.
This year’s panel of judges were led by renowned beauty doctor Vicki Belo, businesswoman Sheila Romero and veteran hotelier and one of PeopleAsia’s Women of Style and Substance 2021 awardees Joanne Golong-Gomez.
After a nationwide search, the contest started several months ago with the announcement of the top 100 candidates from various parts of the country. The number was trimmed down to top 75, then to top 50 before organizers announced the top 30 candidates sometime last August.
Due to health reasons, two finalists dropped out, further reducing the number of candidates to 28.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the contest was delayed for more than a week, as organizers led by Shamcey, beauty queen maker Jonas Gaffud and fashion designer Albert Andrada, looked for possible venues that would allow them to hold a live show following strict IATF protocols.
Apart from being fully vaccinated, people who watched Thursday’s show live were required to undergo RT-PCR tests and show negative test results within a given period of time.
The top 28 was reduced further on coronation night to top 16, top 10 and, finally, top 5. Masbate’s Kisses Delavin, Laguna’s Leren Mae Bautista, Mandaluyong’s Corinne Abalos and Aklan’s Christelle Abello were among those who made it to the top 10.
