Get to know Bea Millan-Windorski, the newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026
Bea Millan-Windorski is the new Miss Universe Philippines.
Among 50 delegates, Windorski remained a frontrunner in this year's pageant. From preliminary activities to the coronation night, the beauty queen from La Union gave her all to clinch the highly coveted title.
During the Q&A portion, the finalists were asked the same question: "Many Filipinos are getting frustrated with the country. For you, why is it still worth it to represent the Philippines on the global stage?"
Her winning answer: "The Philippines is a place I fell 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. 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 and the fact that we need to create local opportunities here so that people don't have to go abroad and be separated from their families in order to survive and thrive. If I were given the title of Miss Universe Philippines, I promise to be a public servant for all," she added.
Get to know the new MUPh queen as she officially begins her reign and sets her sights on bringing home the fifth Miss Universe crown for the Philippines.
A rising pageant girlie
Windorski was introduced to pageantry at a young age, watching competitions with her mom, lola, and aunties.
"I remember not only being amazed by the glitz and glamor of the delegates, but also being astounded by their poise, intellect, and passion for protecting the environment. I deeply appreciate that the competition uses the attention an international pageant draws to raise awareness on environmental concerns and provides young women a platform to share the issues they care about," she said in her 2024 interview with Asia Matters America.
"My family always taught me that beauty is not defined by outer appearance, but by your care for others," she added.
While still based in the US, Windorski has been steadily making her mark on the pageant stage. As seen on her Instagram page, she represented Wisconsin at Miss Earth USA 2024 and went on to win the title, becoming the first-ever Wisconsinite and Filipino American to do so.
She won the Miss Earth Water 2024 title two years before she represented La Union at Miss Universe Philippines.
She has a knack for dancing
Outside the pageant stage, Windorski often shows her playful side—breaking into dance, even grooving to budots with fellow beauty queens. That same energy made her one of the standouts during the opening number at this year’s pageant.
As seen on her Instagram account, she was also a member of her school’s cheerleading team in Wisconsin.
Outspoken on social issues
Aside from the glitz and glamour of pageantry, Windorski makes sure to use her platform for advocacies she feels strongly about. During her reign as Miss Earth USA 2024, her advocacy, "Open Doors Open Hearts," focused on raising awareness of the climate refugee crisis and the needs of refugee communities. She aimed to amplify the voices of refugees and challenge preconceived notions about them.
She also joined the call against the use of liquefied natural gas by the US government, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. She likewise volunteers at Project Curma for sea turtle conservation in her hometown of San Juan, La Union.
Windorski was among the celebrities and personalities who joined anti-corruption protests, including the Trillion Peso March last year and the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, alongside the environmental group Panatang Luntian, where they called for accountability in corruption and advocated for environmental conservation.
