Did You Know? MUPH 2026 Bea Millan-Windorski Used to Be a Bartender

Bea Millan-Windorski is set to represent the Philippines at the 75th edition of Miss Universe this November 2026. Since winning the Miss Universe Philippines crown last May, pageant fans have eagerly awaited her turn on the global stage.

Like many of the country's most formidable beauty queens, however, Bea didn't always envision herself entering pageantry. In her younger years, she focused on her studies and took on a couple of odd jobs to make ends meet.

Before she wore the Philippine sash, Bea competed at Miss Earth as the first Filipino-American representative of the United States. She went on to win the Miss Earth Water crown before returning to the pageant stage to compete in Miss Universe Philippines.

Given her cosmopolitan upbringing, the 23-year-old has been exposed to different ways of life. "No matter where I've lived—and it's been several cities at this point—I always have multiple gigs," she tells Kylie Verzosa in an episode of the latter's Almost Honest podcast. Bea candidly opened up about the various odd jobs she took on as an adolescent, including working as a bartender, custodian, and server.

"Customer service really taught me a lot about life... to always stay humble, and to always treat other people with respect," she shares. "Because jobs in the service industry are so much hard work. And it's so mind-blowing to me that people are very dismissive of those roles. Because that's honestly way harder work than the higher-paying jobs I've had."

"I've learned a lot more that's valuable about life working as a bartender, scrubbing toilets, and cutting bagels than I ever did in any other position," she adds.

With bartending in particular, Bea actually got to hone her communication skills, which proved to be handy in her current work as a beauty queen.

"Bartending taught me how to really talk to anyone, and to always inquire first. I'm really lucky to have that experience because I think if I never had service industry jobs before pageants, I would struggle a lot because I'm a naturally shy and awkward person," she states.

A mere couple of months before she flies to Puerto Rico for the biggest competition of her career thus far, Bea firmly reiterates that she is proud to be Miss Philippines despite her mixed background. "I've worked so hard to pick the Philippines as my home, and by winning the [Miss Universe Philippines] crown, I feel like the Philippines has finally picked me," she opens up to Boy Abunda in an interview on Fast Talk.

Even with critics questioning her authenticity, she remains steadfast in fighting for her dreams of becoming the fifth Filipina Miss Universe. "I get a lot of criticisms that I am an opportunist or I'm performative. But throughout this whole journey, I've just been trying to be enough for myself and enough for younger Bea who is proud to be Filipina, and felt rejected by both Americans and Filipinos at home," she stated.

"I've fought so hard to carve out a place where I feel like I belong, and that's why winning the crown was so emotional."