Beatrice Luigi Gomez may not have won the Philippines' fifth Miss Universe crown at the pageant's 70th coronation night in Eilat, Israel (Monday morning in Manila) but she is considered a triumph for this pageant-loving nation just the same. For not only did the Cebuana beauty land a triumphant Top 5 finish amid very tough competition this year but she gave the Philippines its best standing in the contest since Catriona Gray won the crown in 2018.

Gomez was a stunner from the onset but shined even brighter when host Steve Harvey called her to the Top 15 circle and asked after her tattoo.