MUPH 2026 Bea Millan-Windorski on citizenship questions: 'I've done work to represent PH'
Bea Millan-Windorski has spoken out about concerns regarding her citizenship after she won the Miss Universe Philippines 2026 crown.
In an interview on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the La Union beauty queen cleared the air about how she has been a Filipino citizen since she was born.
"One of the first things my mom did when I was born was register my birth with the Philippine Embassy in the US," the Wisconsin-born 23-year-old said. "And under R.A. 9225, if you are a Filipino citizen born to a Filipino mother or father, as long as they register your birth, your citizenship is reacquired."
"Once I moved here to the Philippines, that's when I started the very long process of obtaining [my] passport. I've always had my dual citizenship documentation, but you need that passport to open a bank account, to access things like your national ID."
Millan-Windorski has been staying in the Philippines for a year and a half now, and only used to visit the country every two to three years when her family could afford it. Her grandparents have a permanent residence in San Juan, La Union.
The beauty queen also addressed why she represented the United States in the Miss Earth 2024 pageant, where she won Miss Earth Water.
"In all honesty, it's because my mom signed me up for that pageant without telling me... I was in the middle of getting my degree, my undergrad, in history, and I was so focused on law school applications and pursuing my academic career that when my mom signed me up for Miss Earth USA, I was like, 'This is not my thing, I'm not going to try very hard. I won't win the pageant.' And then one day, if I feel called to pageantry, I'll join again in the Philippines," Millan-Windorski said.
On being 'performative'
The beauty queen also answered criticism on her Q&A portion, which some social media users called "performative."
"What I was saying is that the Philippines is worth representing because I've done work to represent the Philippines and for the Philippines my whole life," she told Abunda. "Even in the US, I joined the Asian Student Union, I was joining protests of Stop Asian Hate because I wanted to live up to the legacy of my lola and my mom and all they sacrificed."
"And I get a lot of criticisms that I'm an opportunist, or I'm performative, but throughout this whole journey, I've just been trying to be enough for myself and enough for younger Bea, who was proud to be Filipina and felt rejected by both Americans and Filipinos at home."
Millan-Windorski got emotional as she talked about the topic, sharing that she "fought" hard to carve out a place where she felt like she belonged.
"That's why winning the crown was so emotional. I've worked so hard to pick the Philippines as my home, and by winning this crown, I feel like the Philippines has finally picked me."
Marina Summers' 'history-defining' moment
In the interview, Millan-Windorski shared that she thought Drag Race Philippines alum Marina Summers was "nothing but professional" as the host of the 2026 pageant.
"I really wanted to take a moment to commend that this was such a history-defining moment because Miss Universe Philippines is not only a pageant, it's a cultural institution here in the Philippines," she said. "And the fact that a trans woman was able to host with such beauty and grace should be celebrated. It is a celebration for all of our trans brothers and sisters, especially for me as a proud younger sister of a trans older brother."
Millan-Windorski is set to represent the Philippines at the 75th edition of Miss Universe to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.