Bea Millan-Windorski stands with 6 reportedly excluded ASEAN queens

Philippines bet Bea Millan-Windorski expressed sadness over the latest development involving the Miss Universe organization, which reportedly barred six countries from participating in its 75th edition in Puerto Rico.

The affected countries are Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos. Their pageant representatives are associated with organizations linked to Miss Grand International founder Nawat Itsaragrisil.

While she said she respected the business decisions of the Miss Universe Organization, the Philippine representative acknowledged the disappointment felt by her fellow contestants.

“I also want to acknowledge the deep sense of loss and the sense of sadness that a lot of my sister queens are feeling,” she said during her send-off party on Tuesday.

Standing with ASEAN queens

Despite their absence from the international competition, Bea expressed pride in the affected queens for continuing to represent their respective nations and pursue their advocacies.

She also revealed that she has been communicating with several of her fellow ASEAN queens and hopes to visit them after completing her own Miss Universe journey.

Bea emphasized that representing the Philippines also means carrying the pride of the entire ASEAN region, whose member countries share cultural similarities that foster unity and strength.

“We come together because we have cultural similarities. And that’s where a lot of strength and unity comes from,” she said.

Beyond the crown

More importantly, Bea expressed gratitude to her fellow queens for remaining committed to their causes and communities, regardless of whether they get to compete on the Miss Universe stage.

“I just want to extend my deepest gratitude to them for continuing to do the work regardless of if they’re competing or not,” she added.

Bea is scheduled to leave the Philippines on November 5 for Puerto Rico, where she will compete in the upcoming edition of Miss Universe. She hopes to bring home the Philippines’ fifth crown, following Catriona Gray’s historic victory in 2018.