Bea Millan-Windorski hopes Miss U journey can unite Filipinos

May 20 ------ For newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) 2026, Bea Millan-Windorski, being Filipino means remaining authentic and grounded in her values.

“A Filipina is really defined by staying true to herself and her values. I am so happy that I grew up in a devoutly Catholic environment,” Bea shared during her victory presscon at the City of Dreams Manila. “Because my family always taught me to serve the poor, serve the underprivileged first, and live the way Jesus would in that regard. I really feel that a lot of Filipinas, regardless of religion or creed, feel at home. Because we’re so defined by our bayanihan spirit and by uplifting one another regardless of the struggles we go through. And to me, that is a Filipina. And I’m excited to let the universe know what a Filipino woman is like.”

The Filipino-American stunner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her mother is a Filipina from La Union, while her father is of German and Polish descent.

Prior to her MUPH feat, she was crowned Miss Earth Water 2024 after representing the United States. A self-confessed beach babe, Bea enjoys surfing the waves in La Union. “Bea without makeup is someone who really enjoys time and relaxation in nature. I really feel most at ease in the ocean. Partially growing up on the beaches of San Juan, La Union, I grew up loving to surf, loving to swim. I am so excited to take out my extensions, take off my makeup, and have a homecoming soon in Elyu.”

Bea is also proud of her Ilocano roots and takes pride in being pragmatic, a trait she shares with her mother. “So when I first joined the competition, she (mom) wasn’t the most enthused. She was asking me, ‘When are you going to go back to law school? Is it really the right time to join another pageant?’ But I think by winning the crown, I’ve finally made her believe that this is the right path for me. And she’s so excited to see me again in Puerto Rico, along with my dad.”

In November this year, Bea will aim to bring home the Philippines’ fifth crown at the 75th edition of the Miss Universe in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “It’s really an honor, and it’s indicative of how much of a powerhouse the Philippines is,” Bea replied when asked about being “considered a frontrunner” for the international pageant. “And I’m so excited to meet some of my sister queens, especially the Latin American queens. Because in my previous pageant journey, I was actually friends with a lot of the Latinas. So I would say maybe stop calling me ‘Latina slayer’ because I want to be friends with everyone.”

As the reigning MUPH titleholder, Bea feels she has “the biggest privilege” to use her platform to “push for change.” “Through this media tour I’ve been able to communicate to the entire Philippines and the entire universe that I intend to use this platform as a public servant to promote the rights and dignity of our overseas Filipino workers, to push for the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression) bill and ensure that our trans brothers and sisters have proper documentation and also to protect our environment,” she expressed. She also thanked her supporters for encouraging her throughout her pageant journey. “I really wouldn’t be able to make it this far without so much public support, and those kind messages are really what drives me forward.”

Bea told The STAR that one of her favorite memories from her MUPH journey was their Misamis Occidental motorcade. “I saw so many women and young Filipinos wearing sashes that said La Union and carried my name. The fact that I could feel that overwhelming level of support, as an Ilocano woman in Mindanao, really shows the capacity and potential of pageantry to unite the entire country and to be a force of what our country could be,” she said. “So I hope that I could use this crown to really rally and unite all Filipinos and to make them proud by showing why the Philippines is a force to be reckoned with, not only with pageantry but in all aspects of what our country has to offer.”

Source: philstar.com