The Philippines's Beatrice Luigi Gomez made the top five in Monday's Miss Universe final, held in Eilat, Israel and in which India’s Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe.
Who is Beatrice Luigi Gomez?
Gomez, 26, is a beauty queen, model, community development worker, advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, athlete and Philippine Navy Marine reservist from San Fernando, Cebu in the Philippines. She studied mass communications at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu and, in October, was promoted to sergeant of the Philippine Navy Reserve Unit.
In her own words, she is a "sports enthusiast and played in the volleyball varsity team for six years from high school to college".
In June, she told the Cebu Daily News, "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."
"I used to be a socially awkward person who suffered social anxiety for many years and my dream is to one day become a life coach and motivational speaker," her Miss Universe biography reads. "A few weeks before the Miss Universe Philippines competition, I joined a virtual race and ran 42 kilometres for the benefit of children who are victims of the armed conflict in Negros."
Her journey in pageantry goes back to 2015, when she came second runner-up at the Miss Mandaue pageant and, in 2020, she won the Binibining Cebu pageant. In 2021, she represented Cebu in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, and was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021 on September 30.
During Monday's Miss Universe final, she was asked her opinion on mandating a universal vaccine passport.
On stage with presenter Steve Harvey, Gomez answered: "I believe that public health is everyone's responsibility and to mandate vaccine inoculation is necessary.
"[If] mandating vaccine passports would help us in regulating the roll-outs of vaccines and mitigate the situation of the pandemic today, then I would agree [with] mandating the necessary passports."
Miss Universe 2021 top five
In the finals, Gomez was the first to be announced for the top five, along with Miss Colombia Valeria Ayos, Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira and Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane.
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Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, left, is crowned Miss Universe 2021 by Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza from Mexico during the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Eilat, Israel. Contestants from 80 countries and territories competed in the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA -
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu reacts as the Miss Universe crown is placed on her head by the outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico, at the Red Sea resort of Eilat in Israel. Reuters -
Contestants congratulate Miss Universe 2021 winner Harnaaz Sandhu. Reuters -
Miss Universe contestants congratulate Harnaaz Sandhu as she is crowned Miss Universe during the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. AFP -
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu walks on the stage among celebrations after being crowned Miss Universe 2021. EPA -
Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu from India speaks to reporters after winning the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. AFP -
Miss Universe second runner-up Lalela Mswane from South Africa reacts during the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. AFP -
The final three Miss Universe contestants, left to right, Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane; Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu; and Miss Paraguay, Nadia Ferreira, pose on stage during the pageant. AFP -
US singer JoJo performs on stage during the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. AFP -
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu during the swimsuit round of the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. AFP -
Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane poses in the evening gown competition during the pageant. AFP -
US television host Steve Harvey asks Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu the final question during the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP -
Miss Universe 2021 contestants pose during the pageant. Reuters -
Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza appears during the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AP Photo -
Outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico poses during the event. Reuters -
Miss France Clemence Botino poses during the swimsuit round at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA -
Miss Puerto Rico Michelle Colon poses during the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA -
Miss Colombia Valeria Ayos poses during the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA -
Miss USA Elle Smith poses during the Miss Universe pageant. Reuters -
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu and at the pageant. AFP -
Paraguay's Nadia Ferreira poses during the final round of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AP Photo -
Miss Universe semifinalists pose on stage during the swimsuit competition of the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant in Israel's southern Red Sea coastal city of Eilat. AFP -
US television host Steve Harvey hosts the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. AFP -
Judges Adriana Lima, left, and Lori Harvey at the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AP Photo
Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia were then eliminated, leaving Mswane, Sandhu and Ferreira as the top three.
After one final walk around the stage, the final three places were announced as:
- Third place: Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane
- Second place: Miss Paraguay, Nadia Ferreira
- First place: Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu
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See highlights from the Miss Universe 2021 national costumes show:
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Manar Nadeem Deyani, Miss Universe Bahrain 2021, on stage during the National Costume Show at the pageant in Eilat, Israel. Photo: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe -
Miss Morocco, Kawtar Benhalima. All photos: AFP -
Spain's Sarah Loinaz. -
Miss Russia, Ralina Arabova. -
Miss Puerto Rico, Michelle Colon. -
Miss Romania, Carmina Cotfas. -
Miss Poland, Agata Wdowiak. -
Miss Peru, Yely Rivera. -
Miss Philippines, Beatrice Gomez. -
Miss Panama, Brenda Smith. -
Miss Nigeria, Maristella Okpala. -
Miss Nepal, Sujita Basnet. -
Miss Nicaragua, Allison Wassmer. -
Miss Mauritius, Anne Murielle Ravina. -
Miss Malta, Jade Cini. -
Miss Laos, Tonkham Phonchanhueang. -
Miss Kosovo, Tuti Sejdiu. -
Miss Kenya, Roshanara Ebrahim. -
Miss Korea, Jisu Kim. -
Miss Kazakhstan, Aziza Tokashova. -
Miss Japan, Juri Watanabe. -
Miss Jamaica, Daena Soares. -
Miss Italy, Caterina Di Fuccia. -
Miss Iceland, Elisa Groa Steinþorsdottir. -
Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu. -
Miss Vietnam, Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen. -
Miss Honduras, Rose Melendez. -
Miss Venezuela, Luiseth Materan. -
Miss USA, Elle Smith. -
Miss Ukraine, Anna Neplyakh. -
Miss Guatemala, Dannia Guevara. -
Miss Great Britain, Emma Collingridge. -
Miss Sweden, Moa Sandberg. -
Miss Germany, Hannah Seifer. -
Miss Czech Republic, Karolína Kokesova. -
Miss Costa Rica, Valeria Rees. -
Miss China, Shi Yin Yang. -
Miss Canada, Tamara Jemuovic.
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The 10 past winners of Miss Universe
2020 – Andrea Meza, Mexico
2019 – Zozibini Tunzi, South Africa
2018 – Catriona Gray, Philippines
2017 – Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, South Africa
2016 – Iris Mittenaere, France
2015 – Pia Wurtzbach, Philippines
2014 – Paulina Vega, Colombia
2013 – Gabriela Isler, Venezuela
2012 – Olivia Culpo, USA
2011 – Leila Lopes, Angola
