Beatrice Luigi Gomez

Rainbow queen wins new Miss Universe Philippines crown

By Nico Erle Ciriaco

Cebu City's Beatrice Luigi Gomez bested 27 other hopefuls to emerge as the country's representative to the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. The proud LGBTQA member said, during her final Q & A, that the Philippines is ready to send a proud lesbian to the Universe. Always called the last in the semi-final and final rounds, the Cebuana confessed to being nervous in both instances. Outgoing queen Rabiya Mateo crowned Bea at the close of the no-frills rites at the Henann Resort Convention Center in Panglao, Bohol. Bea was also named Miss Creamsilk, Miss Luxxe ImmuPlus Game Changer, as well as Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit earlier in the evening. She will, henceforth, be the ambassador for corporate brands Lazada, Creamsilk, and PLDT Home, as well as enjoy a year-round supply of tickets for two from Air Asia, and a brand new MGZS car; aside from the other monetary and corporate prizes included in her prize package.

Katrina Jayne Dimaranan was named Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2021, a non-competing title, but in case the winner cannot compete in December, for any reason, she will replace her as the country's representative. Katrina also won Php 100,000 and a year's supply of Belo products as the Face of Belo, as well as another Php 50,000 and testing credits for being named Miss Savepoint Plus.

Cavite's Victoria Velasquez Vincent won as Miss Universe Philippines Charity, also a non-competing title, but very integral to the organization's corporate values program. 

Pangasinan's Maureen Christa Wroblewitz and Cebu Province's Steffi Rose Aberasturi were proclaimed runners-up in descending order. Mau was also named Miss Air Asia Philippines and Miss Henann, and will receive a six-night stay at the posh resort. Steffi, on the other hand, was named Miss Luxxe White Reveal Instabright Stunner.

The other girls who made it to the Top 10 were Maria Corazon Abalos of Mandaluyong (who was also voted as Best in National Costume), Janela Joy Cuaton of Albay (who received a prize package of Php 300,000 and a year's supply of products as Miss K-Pads), Kirsten Danielle Delavin of Masbate, who won Miss Lazada for topping the online poll (and who was also named Miss Luxxe White Face of the Universe, as well as winning Php US$ 2,000 for herself and the same amount for her charity of choice as Miss RedFox Labs), Maria Ingrid Teresita Santamaria of Parañaque, and Leren Mae Bautista of Laguna (who won a prize package of Php 300,00 and a year's supply of products as Miss Organic Barley, and an additional Php 50,000 and a year's supply of shoes as Miss Bragais).

The evening started with the candidates dancing to "Born to Win" with outgoing queen Rabiya Mateo in the production number wearing identical pink dresses, that was followed closely by the Shein fashion segment.

The other ladies who made it to the Top 16 were Christelle Abello of Aklan, Chella Grace Falconer of Misamis Oriental, Izabella Jasmine Umali of Manila, Mirjan Hipolito of Angeles, Jane Nicole Miñano of Romblon, and Rousanne Marie Bernos of San Juan.

Pasig's Princess Khrista Singh received a prize package Php 300,000 and a year's supply of face masks for being named Miss Copper Mask.

The semifinal round saw the girls donning Albert Andrada's luxe sports in either a two-piece bikini or a one-piece maillot in fiery crimson. While Miss Angeles almost tripped during her catwalk, Rabiya actually fell while doing her farewell walk but quickly rose back to her feet and laughed about it during her tete-a-tete with host KC Montero. She revealed she would try her luck in showbusiness, doing hosting and acting jobs, after her reign.

This year's selection committee was comprised of People Asia's Woman of Substance Joanne Galang-Gomez, Global City Mandaue's CEO and Air Asia executive Sheila Romero, Frontrow's Sam Versoza, Belo Medical Group director Dr. Vicky Belo, YDG/FDCP president Joji Lloren, and Henann Group president Alfonso Louis Chusuey.

The Miss Universe Philippines organization knew that not all pageants fans could watch the livestream of the final show so it partnered with GMA-7 as it's official broadcast partner. Pageant aficionados who missed the live coronation rites can catch the first national broadcast of the final show with exclusive interviews from the judges and the new queen over GMA network on Sunday morning, Oct. 3 at 9 am.

Meanwhile, those who will miss the morning broadcast may still catch the show on ABS-CBN's entertainment channel on YouTube, as well as on the online platforms iWantTV and TFC-iPTV.

Also, those who missed the preliminaries may still view them on the ABS-CBN entertainment channel on YouTube and iWantTV on Oct. 1 (preliminary interview) and Oct. 2 (swimsuit and evening gown preliminaries).

Hosted by KC Montero, with performances from Sam Concepcion and Michael Pangilinan, the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 grand coronation night was live-streamed on the ktx.ph platform. A limited premium seating of 100 was allowed at the Henann Resort Convention Center, with spectators who all paid US$200 for each gold ticket.

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Images from Facebook/MUPh