Isa sa mga kontrobersyal na kandidata ng Miss Universe Philippines 2021, at ngayon ay title holder nito na si Beatrice Luigi Gomez, dahil sa pag-aming isa siyang gay at in a relationship, sa naganap na interview challenge para sa mga MUP candidates noon.
Proud na proud si Beatrice na siya ay miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community at anim na taon na ang relasyon nila ng jowang si Kate Jagdon. Makikita ang kanilang mga sweet photos sa kani-kanilang mga social media accounts. Hindi naging biro ang pinagdaanan ni Beatrice simula nang manalo siyang Binibining Cebu noong 2020,na ibinahagi niya noon sa kaniyang mahabang Instagram post noong June 21, 2020 para sa Pride Month.
"I’ve been criticized a lot for winning the Binibining Cebu crown for being gay. I just didn’t feel like I owe anyone my identity because the people who know me personally love me just the way I am, especially my family whose opinions matter to me the most, and so I decided to always be true to myself," saad niya sa kaniyang IG post.
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"When people condemn me because they say it is not what it says in the Bible somehow I’m always reminded that being able to say who I am on stage in front of thousands of people was what God wanted me to do because again, I would like to share what happened on that day before the coronation."
Nagtungo umano siya sa isang kumbento upang magnilay at humingi ng gabay.
"I went to the Carmelites Monastery early in the morning to ask for guidance. I only asked God to show me who I was meant to be. I didn’t ask Him to make me go home that night with a crown on my head. I only asked Him to make me change even just one life in the audience."
Imbes na magpagapi, nag-aral na lamang umano siya para sa Q&A, lalo na sa mga paksang pumapatungkol sa LGBTQIA+ community.
"I studied a lot of topics in preparation for the Q&A but LGBTQ topics were the least on my list so I was even shocked on how I came up with my own answer because I always wanted to keep that matter about me private."
Kaya naman nang manalo siya, bukod sa iba't ibang kritisismo ay marami rin naman ang humanga at proud sa kaniya. Masayang-masaya umano siya sa bumahang congratulatory messages at pagsuportang natanggap niya mula sa mga kapamilya, kaibigan, kakilala, at maging mga estranghero. Hinding-hindi niya umano pagsisisihan na naging 'gay' siya.
"The day after that, I was overwhelmed with a lot of congratulatory messages but what mattered to me the most were messages of others, even strangers who opened up themselves to me and how I inspired them and since then if I were hurt because of criticisms, those words brought to me by strangers, now friends became my source of strength and better judgement. I will never doubt myself for being gay ever again."
"If being gay didn’t make God happy why then does He continue to bless me and give me the strength to overcome life’s every challenge? I only truly became happy and lived life to the full when I started becoming honest to myself," dagdag pa niya.
Si Bea ay nasa 6th spot sa Miss Universe Philippines’ Top 7 para sa Interview Challenge. Siya rin ang winner para sa Introduction Challenge. At nitong Setyembre 30, siya ang itinanghal na Miss Universe Philippines 2021 na successor ni MUP 2020 Rabiya Mateo.
