Getting to know BMW: Who is Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Bea Millan-Windorski?

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MANILA, Philippines — Bea Millan Windorski of La Union was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026 in glitzy rites at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday, May 2.

The former Miss Earth Water 2024, who represented the United States in 2024, was the lone winner announced at last Saturday's competition.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, the Filipino-American beauty earned degrees in History and International Relations from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, doing research focused on US-ASEAN relations.

Her interesting resumé includes a fellowship with the Philippine Embassy and an internship at the East-West Center in Washington. She has also articulated her interest to be in the legal profession that she hopes to pursue after her pageant journey.

Bea was a shoo-in for the national crown, lobbying for her representation even before the 2026 pageant season even began — proving the adage that the early bird does get the worms. In this instance, the national title.

After her stint as Miss Earth Water, she moved to her grandparents’ hometown in La Union. She fondly described her relocation as “moving her things in bags and balikbayan boxes” — a reality she shared in her onstage interview at last Saturday's coronation. 

Other titles to be named soon

Last Saturday's coronation saw a few changes compared to past editions. It ended before midnight struck. Another interesting development was the announcement of winners. In years past, two runners-up, a tourism title, as well as a charity title, were announced prior to the night’s winner. This was not the case this year!

The four other Miss Philippines titles (Supranational, Cosmo, Eco International, and Charm) will be given out in a separate occasion on May 10. These titles will be given only to the delegates who chose to accept a crown other than the Miss Universe title during the contract signing at the very beginning of the entire pageant.

Bea was crowned by outgoing queen Ma. Ahtisa Manalo.

She bested 49 other hopefuls, excluding two other delegates who withdrew from the competition earlier on, with one currently competing at the Miss Grand All-Stars in Bangkok, Thailand.

The six other delegates who were with her in the Final Round were Bella Ysmael (Taguig), Nicole Borromeo (Cebu Province), Marian Dela Cruz Arellano (Tarlac), Allyson Hetland (Pampanga), Apriel Smith (Cebu City), and automatic placer Jenrose Javier (Sultan Kudarat), who won as People’s Choice awardee in the Pina Beauty online poll.

The three other delegates who received special awards were Avee Kultsar of Las Piñas (Miss Congeniality), Kristen Marcelino of Pateros (Miss Photogenic), and Justine Beatrice Felizarta of Manila (Best in Swimsuit).

International guests included Miss Universe vice president for Asiana Nawat Itsaragrisil, Miss Universe 2025 1st runner-up Praveenar Singh of Thailand, Mister Supranational 2025 Swann Lavigne of France, Man of the World 2024 Sergio Azuaga from Venezuela, and Miss Universe China national director Owen Chue.

Hosted by drag artiste Marina Summers and with an opening number from P-pop group BGYO, the Miss Universe Philippines 2026 coronation night unfolded from the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and was beamed live to a global audience through Empire Philippines’ channel on YouTube.

Those who missed the live event caught the encore telecast the following morning, May 3, 9 a.m. on TV 5.

Bea will fly to Puerto Rico in November to represent the country in the forthcoming Diamond Anniversary edition (75th Year) of the annual Miss Universe pageant.

RELATED: Kay BMW ang korona: La Union wins Miss Universe Philippines 2026