BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The first openly-bisexual Filipina candidate to the 70th Miss Universe beauty tilt landed in the Top 5 during the pageant’s finals night in Eilat, Israel Sunday (December 13 in Manila).
Miss Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez, 26, joined candidates from India, South Africa, Paraguay, and Columbia in the top 5 during the competition that was participated in by 80 candidates from different countries.
Actress and model Harnaaz Sandhu of India was named Miss Universe 2021 at the pageant’s finals night. She is India’s third representative to win the title. She succeeded Andrea Meza of Mexico.
First runner-up was Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay, second runner-up was Lalela Mswane of South Africa, third runner-up was Valeria Maria Ayos Bossa of Colombia.
Meanwhile, Gomez said she is for mandating universal vaccine passport when asked during the question and answer portion by Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere: “Given the ever-changing COVID situation, what is your opinion of mandating a universal vaccine passport?”
The Cebuana beauty 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 rollouts of the vaccine, and mitigate the situation of the pandemic today, then I would agree on mandating the necessary passport of vaccination. Thank you.”
Gomez was crowned Miss Universe Philippines in September. She is the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to be given the local title.*
