Beatrice Luigi Gomez Talks About Her Armband Tattoo

Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez made the country proud as she entered the Top 5 at the 70th Miss Universe coronation night held on December 12 in Eilat, Israel.

The 26-year-old "unbothered" queen, who hails from Cebu City, has a standout beauty and personality, and one of the most noticeable things about her is her band tattoo on her right arm.  

During the Miss Universe 2021 coronation night, as Beatrice Luigi advanced to the Top 16, host Steve Harvey asked about the meaning behind her tattoo. This Metro cover star shared onstage, "So the tattoo you're talking about is the one I'm wearing on my sleeve. It actually means rebirth and new beginnings. So, this is a cherry blossom. I got it on my 23rd birthday, and I got it to celebrate my womanhood."

An armband tattoo can traditionally represent death or mourning, but for Beatrice Luigi, it's the opposite. As the symbolism of spring, cherry blossom (or sakura in Japan) marks a time of renewal. Though it's delicate and only has a short blooming period, it encapsulates life's fleeting nature. When translated into a tattoo, it's said to equate to independence and a celebration of one's sexuality.

Before she left for Israel for the Miss Universe 2021 pageant, Beatrice Luigi got three new tattoo symbols on her fingers by Cebu-based tattoo artist Boots Brandon, who wrote on Instagram: "Tattoo session with the Miss Universe Philippines 2021, Beatrice Luigi Gomez. Thank you for being a representative of unapologetic self expression despite the odds you've faced in your career."  

Beatrice Luigi Gomez is the first openly gay Miss Universe Philippines. She ended her Miss Universe journey in the Top 5. India's Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu was named Miss Universe 2021. 

Congratulations to our queen and to all the winners at this year's Miss Universe pageant!

Lead photo by @dookieducay via @themissuniverseph