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Beatrice Gomez is a mystical goddess in her 'Bakunawa' national costume for Miss Universe
Is she a goddess? A beautiful mystical creature?
Either way, Beatrice Gomez is a breathtaking sight in her Bakunawa dragon costume during the National Costume Competition of the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel on Saturday morning (Philippine time).
According to Miss Universe Philippines, the Cebuana beauty queen took inspiration from Philippine mythology — specifically the Bakunawa, a serpent-like dragon believed to have swallowed the moon, causing eclipses.
However, Beatrice took it a step further and reimagined the Bakunawa in its final form: The Golden Lunar Dragon.
Made by Axel Que, the costume had a teal bodice and elaborate gold tails. Beatrice also wore an intricate, handcrafted metal headdress that depicted the moon, created by Manny Halasan.
"This is a metaphor for Bea’s growth and personal evolution," Miss Universe Philippines said in its Instagram post. "The costume is done in gold as it is considered to be the perfect element and acts much like an enchanted armor. The Bakunawa appears in Philippine literature, arts, pop culture, and even children’s games."
Meanwhile, in the swimsuit competition, Beatrice slayed in a pink one-piece, before donning a fiery red evening gown created by Francis Libiran.
Beatrice was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021 in September, making history as the first openly out member of the LGBT+ community to win the crown.
She arrived in Israel in late November to represent the country in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant. —JCB, GMA News
