Lance Joseph Martinez

Who is Bea Millan-Windorski? 10 Facts About the Newly-Crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Article (news)

<p>After months of competition, the Philippines has officially crowned its new queen!</p><p><strong>Bea Millan-Windorski</strong>, who represented <strong>La Union</strong>, was crowned <strong>Miss Universe Philippines 2026 </strong>after besting 49 other candidates during the coronation night held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 2.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777740990161[image] - 5115031.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Bea Millan-Windorski | Photo from @themissuniverseph</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>A consistent frontrunner since the application stage, Bea lived up to expectations with a standout performance that ultimately secured her the crown. For the evening gown segment, she stunned in a ruched and intricately beaded <strong>Anthony Ramirez </strong>creation—an elegant look that perfectly complemented the <strong>Jewelmer La Mer en Majesté</strong> crown.</p><p>What truly sealed her victory, however, was her powerful response during the final question and answer round: <strong>“Many Filipinos are getting frustrated with the country. For you, why is it still worth it to represent the Philippines on the global stage?”</strong></p><p>She answered, &quot;The Philippines is something and a place that I&#x27;ve been 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.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777740729139[image] - 9440749.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/> </div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“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&#x27;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.</p><p>With a new queen now crowned, curiosity about her only continues to grow. <strong>With that, here are 10 facts about the newly-crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026, Bea Millan-Windorski.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.</strong></div><p>Born in 2002, Bea Millan-Windorski was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.</p><p>Although she is representing La Union, the home province of her grandparents, she is currently based in Makati as she continues to pursue her pageant journey and career in the Philippines.</p><p>This strong connection between her American upbringing and Filipino roots is what makes her story even more unique. It is also the reason she describes herself as an <strong>“Elyucana in Makati</strong>.<strong>”</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She comes from a family of immigrants through her maternal grandparents.</strong></div><p>Despite being born and raised in the United States, Bea Millan-Windorski is half Filipina on her mother’s side. Her maternal grandparents, <strong>Alfredo C. Millan </strong>an<strong>d Marcela B. Millan</strong>, originally came from San Juan, San Fernando in La Union, Philippines, before immigrating to the United States.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777741040719[image] - 4495520.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Bea Millan-Windorski with her <em>lola</em> Marcela | Photo from @bea.millan.windorski</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She has a diverse range of talents.</strong></div><p>Growing up, Bea Millan-Windorski explored a variety of hobbies and developed multiple skills before eventually finding her passion for pageantry.</p><p>She attended <strong>Whitefish Bay High School</strong>,<strong> </strong>where she was actively involved in the varsity dance team, string orchestra, and debate team. Outside of school, she also trained in ballet at the <strong>Milwaukee Ballet School</strong> and studied cello at the <strong>Wisconsin Conservatory of Music</strong>, reflecting her strong background in both the performing arts and academics.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She holds a degree in History and International Relations.</strong></div><p>In a <strong>Miss Earth USA 2024 </strong>video, Bea Millan-Windorski shared a value that has long defined her journey, saying, “Education is incredibly important to me.” This statement clearly reflects her academic background and personal drive.</p><p>She studied at the <strong>University of Wisconsin–Madison</strong>, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in <strong>History and International Relations. </strong>During her time in college, she also became a member of the <strong>Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta</strong>. Her academic interests notably focused on<strong> US–ASEAN</strong> relations, further highlighting her strong engagement with global and political studies.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777741589949[image] - 2320954.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @missearthusa</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She was crowned Miss Earth USA 2024.</strong></div><p>Although her Miss Universe Philippines 2026 crown marks her first national title in the Philippines, Bea Millan-Windorski had already made her mark on the global pageant stage under the United States</p><p>She earlier represented Wisconsin in Miss Earth USA 2024. Ahead of the competition, she underwent training with <strong>Alma Cabasal, </strong><strong>Miss Philippines Earth Water 2013,</strong> while also collaborating with Los Angeles-based Filipino designer <strong>Carl Andrada </strong>for her preliminary and final gowns.</p><p>At 21, she eventually clinched the title, making history as the first<strong> Filipino-American</strong> winner of <strong>Miss Earth USA.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She is a former Miss Earth Water titleholder.</strong></div><p>Despite being a fresh face on the international pageant stage, Bea Millan-Windorski made an immediate impact and emerged as one of the frontrunners in <strong>Miss Earth 2024</strong>.<strong> </strong>Representing the United States, she delivered a strong performance throughout the competition, ultimately earning the Miss Earth Water 2024 title.</p><p>At the conclusion of the pageant, she was crowned <strong>Miss Earth Water</strong>,<strong> </strong>while <strong>Jessica Lane</strong> of Australia took home the Miss Earth 2024 crown.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777741124842[image] - 4792221.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @bea.millan.windorski</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She is a dedicated advocate for climate refugees.</strong></div><p>In her <strong>Miss Earth USA 2024</strong> pageant journey video, Bea Millan-Windorski highlighted her environmental advocacy, sharing, “My advocacy is called Open Doors, Open Hearts, and it’s all about raising awareness of the issues facing climate refugees,” said the beauty queen.</p><p>She further explained, “I really wanted to focus on an environmental advocacy pageant to really promote this concern and directly [advance] the voices of refugees.”</p><p>Bea began her work with refugee communities in Milwaukee when she was 16 years old, an experience that helped shape her long-standing commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She actively participates in rallies and movements in the Philippines.</strong></div><p>In response to the flood control projects scandal in the Philippines, Bea Millan-Windorski has joined public demonstrations calling out government corruption, including the <strong>Trillion Peso March.</strong></p><p>In a post on Instagram, she wrote, “Every peso misallocated, every flood control project constructed with substandard materials is a livelihood impacted, a home lost, and a family displaced.”</p><p>She has also participated in initiatives organized by <strong>Panatang Luntian </strong>and the <strong>Environmentalists Stand Against Corruption Allianc</strong>e, further reflecting her active stance on environmental and governance issues.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777741265990[image] - 641699.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Portia via @bea.millan.windorski</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She has completed internships with both the Philippine and the US government institutions.</strong></div><p>Around January 2024, following her win as <strong>Miss Earth USA 2024</strong>, Bea Millan-Windorski shared that she completed a fellowship with the<strong> Philippine Embassy</strong>, as well as an internship at the<strong> East-West Center </strong>in Washington, D.C.</p><p>After her Miss Earth stint in 2024, she eventually decided to relocate to the Philippines, where she later pursued her pageant journey and went on to join <strong>Miss Universe Philippines 2026.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She is also an advocate for immigrants.</strong></div><p>After greeting her grandmother—an immigrant—a Happy Mother’s Day, Bea Millan-Windorski took the moment to speak up for a cause close to her heart: <strong>immigrants and their families.</strong></p><p>In her post, she wrote, “My heart is also with immigrant mothers and families who are at risk of deportation despite many having legal permanent residence in the United States. In the past month alone three U.S. citizen children, including a child with cancer, were deported to Honduras along with their mothers. These are families like yours and mine who came to this country seeking a better life, and it is the sacrifices and contributions of immigrant families that truly make our nation great.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZD_PVUuvbSI?si=pq1H4CcRja93P5V-" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>EmpirePH</strong> via <strong>YouTube</strong></p>

<p>After months of competition, the Philippines has crowned its new queen! Get to know Miss Universe Philippines 2026, Bea Millan-Windorski.</p>

After months of competition, the Philippines has crowned its new queen! Get to know Miss Universe Philippines 2026, Bea Millan-Windorski.