Beatrice Luigi Gomez, a proud member of the LGBT community, won tonight’s Miss Universe Philippines 2021 title, the most coveted beauty pageant contest in the country.
She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe Competition this coming December in Israel.
Ms. Gomez bested 99 other contestants, all vying for the top post, which was at the helm of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated (BPCI) for the past half-century.
This year’s competition was held at the Hennan Resort Convention Center in Panglao, Bohol, a last-minute venue choice, as surging COVID-19 cases hindered the organization from holding the event at the metropolis.
The 26-year-old stunner from Cebu City also bagged the Best Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit special awards. She also brought home the Miss Luxxe White Immunplus Game Changers and Miss Cream Silk awards.
In the question-and-answer portion, Ms. Gomez was asked: “If you become Miss Universe Philippines and become sad and uninspired, how will you continue to inspire others during your reign?”
She responded: “All of us went through difficulties in the pandemic but it is also proof that we can rise to the occasion. I will not give up by rising to the problems I’m encountering.”
Four other titles were also awarded: Katrina Dimaranan from Taguig City was named Miss Universe Philippines Tourism. Victoria Vincent from Cavite won the Miss Universe Philippines Charity title. Maureen Wroblewitz from Pangasinan secured the 1st Runner-Up title, while Steffi Aberasturi from Cebu Province the 2nd Runner-Up.
Ms. Aberasturi won the Miss Luxxe White Reveal Instabright Stunner award.
Kisses Delavin, former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate and Masbate’s representative, clinched the Miss Universe Philippines Lazada, Miss Red Fox and Miss Luxxe Face of the Universe awards. One of the most-hyped contestant online, Ms. Delavin failed to enter the Top 5 slate.
The Face of Belo Sunexpert and Miss Save Point Plus awards went to Ms. Dimaranan.
Maria Corazon Abalos, whose national costume was crafted by Joji Aguilar, took home the Best National Costume plum.
Other contestants who went home not emptyhanded via special awards: Pasig’s Princess Singh (Miss Coppermask), Laguna’s Leren Bautista (Miss Organic Barley and Miss Bragais), Albay’s Janela Cuaton (Miss K-Pads) and Ms. Wroblewitz (Miss Hennan and Miss Air Asia Philippines)
Last year’s victor, Rabiya Mateo, who failed to enter the Top 10 of the Miss Universe Competition, fell on the ground while walking on stage. She then said, “I fell but again, once you fall, you have to get up.”
KC Montero, co-host of the TV5 noontime program “Lunch Out Loud,” hosted tonight’s event. Sam Concepcion and Michael Pangilinan serenaded the ladies during the Swimsuit and Evening Gown competitions, respectively.
The delegates were sharply reduced from a pool of 100 to just 28 as the evening began. Only 16 contestants were then able to join the Swimsuit and Evening Gown competitions.
Five women made it to the final cut, who competed for the question-and-answer portion.
The panel of judges included Belo Medical Center’s head honcho Dra. Vicky Belo, Frontrow CEO and co-founder Sam Verzosa, Hilton Manila commercial director Joanne Golong-Gomez, fashion designer Jojie Lloren and Roku Group CEO Sheila Romero.
The event was livestreamed on KTX.ph, ABS-CBN’s digital arm for special events and movie screenings. GMA will air the coronation night on Sunday morning, while ABS-CBN will upload the event’s entirety on its YouTube channel on the same day.
Ms. Dimaranan was pageant experts’ top prediction to win the crown. “[Dimaranan] just radiates ‘experience’, and screams ‘prepared and ready’ which is why I think she’s the one to be sent this year with less than 2 months of preparation left until jetting off to MU,” one pageant blogger said.
The coronation date remained up in the air as recently as the last two weeks as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) had yet to give their stamp of approval to proceed with the event. The original September 25 coronation was pushed to the month’s end. Two of the Top 30 contestants, Zambales’ Joanna Rabe and Davao City’s Ybonne Ortega, cut their journey short after contracting dengue and COVID-19, respectively.
“Mounting a safe pageant for all our stakeholders is our number one priority today. This is why we enhanced, even more, all of our safety protocols given our current situation,” the organization asserted.
Featured image from The Philippine Star.
The Edj View 