PASAY CITY, Philippines — Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026 on Saturday, May 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena, where she competed against 49 other candidates.
The coronation took place during a nearly five-hour event that ended with Windorski being announced as the winner and succeeding outgoing titleholder Ahtisa Manalo.
Windorski, who stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, is a Filipino-American aspiring lawyer born and raised in Wisconsin. She previously represented the United States in the 2024 Miss Earth pageant, where she placed as Miss Earth-Water.
During the final question-and-answer round, the top finalists were asked why it remains worthwhile to represent the Philippines internationally amid public frustration in the country.
Windorski said she has long identified with the Philippines and described her connection to the country as personal and longstanding. She said she grew up in a non-diverse community in the United States and identified as Filipina while explaining her heritage to others.
She said she moved to the Philippines after placing items in storage in the United States and cited a desire to support local opportunities. She also said she intends to serve in a public capacity if given the title.
Windorski will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe pageant scheduled in Puerto Rico in November.
The competition also named the remainder of the Top 7 finalists, including representatives from Sultan Kudarat, Cebu City, Tarlac, Taguig, Cebu Province, and Pampanga.
Special awards were given to candidates from Las Piñas, Pateros, and Manila.
The selection panel included former Miss Universe Philippines representatives, international pageant officials, and entertainment and public figures. The event also featured guest appearances by Miss Universe representatives and pageant executives.
Organizers said additional titles and runner-up placements will be awarded in a separate ceremony at a later date, including designations under affiliated national pageant brands that select representatives for other international competitions.
This year’s edition included public voting as part of the selection process, with online votes contributing to the final results.