Bea Gomez’s ‘unconventional style’ is her edge in Miss U

MANILA, Philippines — Touted as a “Silent Killer” by the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization, Beatrice “Bea” Luigi Gomez’s “edgy and unconventional style” has been her strength since the national pageant and she has carried it out at the ongoing 70th Miss Universe in Eilat, Israel.

“Bea has an edgy, unconventional style. So, we work with what she naturally possesses and enhance it,” MUPH communications director Voltaire Tayag told The STAR in an e-mail interview.

“It’s ironic how so many talk about empowered women and yet when these women express what they want in terms of styling for their pageant, so many can’t seem to accept it,” he added.

Voltaire described Bea as “someone who stayed true to her core and has been consistent throughout her pageant journey,” and reminded people to “respect Bea’s own ways of approaching things.”

Nevertheless, Bea showed her fierce side during the Swimsuit, Evening Gown preliminary rounds (she wore a red gown by Francis Libiran) and donned a Bakunawa Dragon-inspired ensemble by Axlaxel Que and Manny Halasan during the National Costume.

In the introductory video for the Miss Universe 2021, Bea opened up being raised by a single mom and how volleyball has helped her and her sister get by through their high school and college life.

The video showed snippets of her hometown in Cebu, photos of Bea with her mom and sister and her playing volleyball back in the day.

“We had quite a hard time managing our household. My sister and I tried out a volleyball varsity team and we were able to get an athletic scholarship and that’s how we were able to go to a good school from high school to college,” began Bea.

More than just her sport, volleyball made an impact on her life’s journey. “Being a part of a volleyball varsity team is not just a thing that I take as an achievement but it is something that really changed my life for the better because I was able to help my mom in some way and I was able to make her proud.”

The 26-year-old beauty queen is a one tough chick doing physical work and trainings as a community development worker and a Philippine Navy Marines Reservist. But she doesn’t mind doing physical activities, “It was easy for me to do the physical training, it was physically challenging but I was already an athlete before and I still continue to run at least five kilometers a day.”

A proud bisexual, she is the first LGBTQIA+ member to win the Miss Universe Philippines title. “I’m very grateful that the Philippines is very supportive of sending an LGBTQIA+ member to represent our country. It’s a big deal because we are here to give positivity and be an inspiration, especially to young children who are looking up to us — that they can be whoever they want to be when they grow up,” said Bea.

She earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City.

Furthermore, the MUPH organization shared how Bea has “worked very hard to be an elevated version of herself from her national pageant.”

“In terms of (being a) pageant contender, she has polished her overall presentation and runway skills. But in terms of Bea the individual, she remains to be the humble and kind person that she is,” said Voltaire.

As the coronation event happens today, Dec. 13 at 8 a.m. (Philippine time), the MUPH believes that everything Bea has been “working on and preparing for is within her grasp. At this point, she really needs to just trust in her abilities and beauty and enjoy the rest of the journey.”

Comparing this year’s edition from 2020, the competition in Israel has “considerably less activities approaching the finals.” Voltaire revealed, “The requirements for their daily attire have caught the candidates and their organizations by surprise. They have been required to wear casual, sporty outfits with sneakers on several occasions.”

Even so, Bea has been “diligently following all guidelines and instructions.”

In addition, Bea’s training camp Aces & Queens, headed by Gerry Diaz, is optimistic that “Bea will easily make it to the Top 16” after her “excellent performance” during the Swimsuit and Evening Gown preliminaries and closed-door interview.

“She projected a great personality and had so much poise and confidence. It was very evident from her bright smile that she was very relaxed and enjoying her every minute on stage,” Gerry told The STAR.

He further urged everyone to continue praying for Bea and keep sending her positive vibes, love and support. “Once Bea enters the Top 16, I expect her to perform very well and move on to the next two rounds. If the Top 16 candidates are required to make their speeches, Bea can deliver a good speech, focusing on her life story, achievements and advocacies.”

He continued, “If they will use the swimsuit round as the next elimination, Bea has good chances to move on because of her height, slim, fit body and long shapely legs. Add to that, her pasarela, too.

“If Bea makes the Top 10 and the candidates parade in their evening gowns, Bea is expected to shine when she wears a gown by Francis Libiran, who has dressed most of our Filipina international beauty titlists.”

“In the Evening Gown preliminary, her performance elicited positive reviews and if she performs as well or even better, Bea can break into the Top 5. It’s the final Q&A that will determine the placements and the winner,” Gerry concluded, “With her intelligence, very good communication skills and poise, my hopes are high that she will get a very good placement.”