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Miss Universe PH 2021 candidate Simone Nadine Bornilla on being raised by gay parents: ‘I stand as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community’

By PINKY S. ICAMEN Published Aug 13, 2021 5:56 pm

Simone Nadine Bornilla is proud that she was raised by two men, and with this, she stands as an ally to the LGBTQ community.

“I was raised by two gay men and I can proudly say that I am nurtured with unconditional love and support,” Nadine wrote in an Instagram post. “I am your LGBTQ+ ally in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 stage.”

In her introduction video for the pageant, 18-year-old Nadine, who is representing the province of Marinduque, shared that her biological father, Dr. Jumel Bornilla and stepfather, entrepreneur Manix Genabe, are her inspiration in everything she does.

“One thing that makes me unique is I grew up in a gay family. I was raised by two men and over the course of my life looking back, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” she said.

Nadine, an incoming Medical Biology freshman at the De La Salle University, took her advocacy as she believes “no one should be judged based on your sexual preference or the sexual orientation of your family” and she wants to be a voice for the LGBTQ+ community.

She shared in an Instagram post her first-hand experience on being discriminated on because of family.

“I was not accepted in an international Catholic school when I was an incoming Grade 4 student simply because I come from a gay family. Surprisingly, Colegio San Agustin-Makati, which is also a Catholic school, accepted me with open arms,” she wrote.

Simone Nadine Bornilla with stepfather, entrepreneur Manix Genabe and biological father Dr. Jumel Bornilla.

In an interview with Sam Brusas Crown on YouTube Nadine said her dads inspire her. She also has a brother, Jesus Bornilla. “Sila ‘yung pinanghuhugutan ko. I’ve always seen them marching towards anything that they think is a potential success.”

“They thought about their children, they thought about having to sustain us, and that was more important for them than their pride, having people ridicule them. I think if I were to ever grow up, I would want to be just as good as them,” said Nadine.