On 30 September, Beatrice Luigi Gomez was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021. The 26-year old Filipina is set to represent the country in the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Israel in December.
If you’re curious about this Cebuana beauty, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about her in the list below – from being the first openly gay Miss Universe Philippines to her advocacy as a community development worker.
Gomez with ex-girlfriend Kate Jagdon
Image credit: @kate_jagdon
“I was in grade school when I first got interested in girls. I didn’t have any concept or idea about being gay back then as I grew up and I was surrounded with an environment of various sexual orientations, that’s when I realized that I was interested in both sexes,” said Gomez in an article by CDN Life!.
Meeting her ex-girlfriend, Kate Jagdon, who she was with for 7 years during her Miss Universe Philippines win, and sticking to what she wanted, Gomez realized that she didn’t owe anyone a coming out.
Gomez also said in an Instagram post that she is non-binary. “Non-binary… sometimes I’m Beatrice/Bea, other days I feel like being Luigi. It’s about being feminine and masculine at the same time,” her caption read.
However, Jagdon announced through an Instagram story on 23rd November 2021 that she and Gomez have broken up. “Bea and I have parted ways. I am simply taking this step to move forward and go on with my life. Nothing more,” Jagdon wrote.
Gomez in her swimsuit and blue evening gown
Image adapted from: Miss Universe Philippines and Miss Universe Philippines
Besides bringing home the Miss Universe Philippines crown, Gomez won many other special awards, including Best Swimsuit and Best Evening Gown.
She wore a red one-piece with a cape for the swimsuit competition, a design shared by some of her fellow contestants. For her evening gown, she walked down the stage in a one-shouldered, blue, sequinned number by Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Furne One.
Earlier in the competition, Gomez also won the introduction video challenge where she introduced herself through her various interests such as boxing and diving.
Gomez’s first headshot for Miss Universe Philippines 2021
Image credit: @beatriceluigigmz
Prior to Miss Universe Philippines 2021, Gomez had only joined 2 other beauty contests – Miss Mandaue 2015 and Binibining Cebu 2020.
Following Binibining Cebu 2020, Miss Universe Philippines was also just her second pageant win.
Before becoming a beauty queen, Gomez was a collegiate volleyball athlete. She had also been a model since 2010.
Binibining Cebu 2019 Steffi Rose Aberasturi crowning Gomez as Binibining Cebu 2020
Image credit: @beatriceluigigmz
Usually, queens only get to keep their title for only a year. But due to the pandemic, Gomez’s journey to the national pageant stage had to be put on hold. It’s all good, though, as she emerged triumphant and won the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2021.
She was crowned by Binibining Cebu 2019 Steffi Rose Aberasturi, who also joined Miss Universe Philippines 2021 and became the second-runner up.
As Binibining Cebu 2020, she took part in many outreach programs in the province of Cebu.
Gomez with youths from Operation Second Chance
Image credit: @beyouthful_ph
Gomez is one of the co-founders of BEYouthfulPH, an NGO that helps kids and teenagers who have broken the law to become better members of society.
In particular, she organized donation drives for these children and conducted sports clinics to promote a healthy lifestyle and instill discipline and values.
“As a product of athleticism I advocate for youth empowerment through sports because we believe in sports as one of the best tools to develop character-forming values, to encourage independence, and to build both physical and emotional strength,” Gomez said in an Instagram post.
Gomez during her Basic Citizen’s Military Training
Image credit: @beatriceluigigmz
Gomez is part of the Naval Reserve Command. This means that should there be a shortage of soldiers during a conflict or a calamity, she can be called up for duty.
She joined the Basic Citizen’s Military Course in January 2021 under the 82nd Marine Battalion of the Naval Reserve Center of Eastern Visayas. This tested her endurance and involved trainings from first aid to test firing.
She completed her training on 13 March 2021.
Gomez wearing a Pride mask
Image credit: @beatriceluigigmz
Gomez believes that as a beauty queen, community development worker, and navy reservist, she can help improve the lives of youth LGBT+ members.
In an interview with CDN Life!, she said, “Just like what everyone hopes for in the LGBTQIA+ [community], I aspire for acceptance and inclusivity — especially equal rights and protection for the younger generation who oftentimes suffer from bullying and different forms of violence.”
“They are left to fend for themselves, particularly those that are oppressed by their own parents,” she also added.
A photo of Gomez scuba diving
Image credit: @beatriceluigigmz
In her Miss Universe Philippines 2021 introduction video, Gomez said that she is an adrenaline junkie. She’s into sports such as boxing and scuba diving and has also experienced airsoft shooting and wakeboarding.
Recently, Gomez finished her first 42-kilometer marathon which was held for the benefit of children affected by armed conflict in Negros.
In the same video, Gomez also mentioned that she is a fan of mixed martial arts.
Gomez at collegiate provincial volleyball competition
Image adapted from: @beatriceluigigmz, Reynan Villena/The Freeman
Gomez was an athletic scholar at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City. There, she studied mass communication.
She began her modelling career to help her single mother financially. From January 2010 to October 2020, she was represented by AD Models Philippines.
Currently, she models under Origin Model & Artist Management while she was trained for Miss Universe Philippines by Aces & Queens.
In just about 3 months, Beatrice Luigi Gomez will be representing the Philippines in the world’s most prestigious pageant stage to be held in Israel. There, she will compete with over a hundred other candidates vying to take home the crown.
With her beauty, brains, eloquence, and heart for her advocacies, though, the 26-year old Cebuana is certainly a strong candidate for Miss Universe 2021.
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Cover image adapted from: @kate_jagdon, Miss Universe Philippines, and @beatriceluigigmz
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