CEBU City’s bets topped this year’s Miss Universe Philippines and Miss World Philippines pageants, earning the rights to represent the Philippines at the top two rival pageants in December.
Beatrice Luigi Gomez, 26, was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2021 last September 30 in Panglao, Bohol and will vie for the 70th Miss Universe Pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel in December.
She also won the Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown awards.
Bea, as Gomez is fondly called, is a lesbian, making her the first from the LGBTQIA+ community to win the coveted title. She is also a Philippine Navy reservist with the rank of corporal and is into volleyball, MMA, boxing and scuba diving.
A Mass Communications graduate of University of San Jose Recoletos, Bea won as Binibining Cebu in 2020.
Bea believes that the Philippines is ready to field someone from the LGBTQIA+ like her for it has been so long that “we have been fighting for our rights, and it’s about time we get the recognition and respect we deserve.”
Meanwhile, Tracy Maureen Perez, 28, was crowned as Miss World Philippines 2021 in a 6-hour long pageant held in Subic Bay, Zambales last Sunday, winning the top title on her second consecutive try and earned the right to vie for the 70th Miss World Pageant to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 16.
An Industrial Engineering graduate of University of San Carlos, Tracy was born in Agusan del Norte and moved to Cebu with her mother when she was little.
Her mother is the late Chona A. Perez, who was once voted as one of Cebu’s Five Prettiest and also competed in Binibining Pilipinas 1979, alongside former Miss International Melanie Marquez.
Tracy’s advocacy is education-centered projects for orphans and less fortunate children.
Bea and Tracy belong to the same talent agency, Origin Model and Artist Management, and have trained under the same pageant camp, Aces & Queens.
