La Union's Bea Millan-Windorski is the new Miss Universe Philippines
Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026 during the final of the national pageant on Saturday, May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The 24-year-old Filipino-American beauty succeeded Maria Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province. She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, which is set to take place in Puerto Rico later this year.
Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province, Apriel Smith of Cebu City, Allyson Hetland of Pampanga, Jenrose Javier of Sultan Kudarat, Bella Ysmael of Taguig, and Marian Arellano of Tarlac made the Top 7.
Completing the Top 15 were from Baguio, Roxie Baeyens, Camiguin, Erica Cadayday, Iloilo City, Zestah Espinosa, Negros Occidental, Alex Colmenares, Manila, Justine Felizarta, Muntinlupa, Adela-Mae Marshall, Quezon Province, Ella Evangelista, and Tacloban, Jacqueline Gulrajani.
The new Miss Universe Philippines is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is no stranger to pageantry, having previously secured the title of Miss Earth USA and achieved a Top 4 finish at the Miss Earth 2024 pageant.
Following her participation in Miss Earth, Bea relocated to the Philippines, where she championed various social causes and ultimately represented her family's home province on a national level.
"The Philippines is something and a place that I've been in love with my whole life. Growing up in a predominantly non-diverse part of the United States, I was identified as Filipina first and foremost," she said during the final Q&A segment.
"I often had to point where the Philippines was on a map to my peers, and I always felt a sense of belonging and home. I chose to pack my life into balikbayan boxes and suitcases because I believe in the limitless potential of the Filipino people..." she added.
Road to the 75th Miss Universe:
Photos: Miss Universe Philippines / Instagram
