Beatrice Gomez on Celeste Cortesi: ‘Very much well-prepared’

CEBU, Philippines —  Beatrice Luigi Gomez has said during a Cebu homecoming as Miss Universe Philippines 2021 that in ten years, she sees herself as a philanthropist building communities and improving lives. She also mentioned her plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work when pageant duties died down.

After earning a Mass Communications degree at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) thru the ETEEAP (Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation) Program, the Cebuana beauty queen hasn’t forgotten her goal to pursue higher studies. “I actually want to return to school,” Gomez told The FREEMAN in a recent interview.

She had enrolled at the Law department of USJ-R, but withdrew her application after realizing that “for the past two years, after Binibining Cebu, my activities have been non-stop. From joining the Reserve Force, then Miss Universe Philippines, then my outreach programs...I feel I deserve a break, so right now, I’ve been planning travels. Then maybe after, I’ll pursue my studies again.”

On her Instagram account, Gomez has shared photos of her latest leisure trips to Japan and Thailand where she is apparently having the time of her life soaking in the culture and cuisine.

Her peripatetic and gastronomic forays should come in handy when she returns to shoot more YouTube episodes for Empire.PH’s “The Beautiful Kitchen” which features her alongside fellow Miss Universe Philippines title-holders Shamcey Supsup, Rabiya Mateo, and the reigning Celeste Cortesi.

“It’s basically a cooking show. In our first or five episodes, we will be cooking Italian-Asian fusion cuisine to honor Celeste and getting to know her, giving her advice,” said Gomez. “So it’s all about beautiful conversations on our experiences and how Celeste can learn from it to help her in the Miss Universe competition.”

Launched last month, Empire.PH also features other digital shows such as “Main Attraction” and “Beach Beauties.”

“One thing common with all of us is our love for food, so that’s why Mama J [Jonas Gaffud] came up with this idea to make a show about food and conversations, but more on getting to know the queens and our Miss Universe experience,” added Gomez, who in the second episode dished out juicy stories about her time in Israel for Miss Universe 2021.

“The Beautiful Kitchen” is just one of Gomez’s string of hosting jobs lately. Aside from modelling stints, she’s been kept busy with emceeing pageants and events all over the country.

“I actually got the experience first before doing the workshops, which I’m doing now so that I can host better. So far I’m enjoying it because after the competition, I really expressed to my management that I’d rather focus on hosting than acting,” she said. “I’m open naman to acting, so I’ve started attending acting workshops lately. For now, I’m just hesitant since I don’t have acting experience.”

With Cortesi’s looming Miss Universe competition in New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States next month – January 14 to be exact – Gomez reports that the Philippine bet is “very much well-prepared.”

“I’ve seen her preparations. Compared to me, I only had two months after winning Miss Universe Philippines, so she’s had more time. I’m happy with Celeste since she listens to advice, not just from me, but from Shamcey and Rabiya. I can see that she’s really excited to compete. For me, she has a huge chance.”

As for her thoughts on the new Miss Universe management welcoming qualified mothers and married women to the pageant, Gomez had this to say: “I’m happy that they are opening more opportunities for women in all walks of life. I think the opinion has been varied. Personally, if a woman is still capable, in whatever condition she is in, whether she’s a mom or not, single or married – as long as she’s able to carry out her duties as Miss Universe, then I would agree.”