Last night, May 23, was the Miss Universe-Philippines 2024 coronation night, so you know what that meant: The entire country hit pause to tune in on the livestream, waiting with bated breathe to see who would take home the coveted crown. The night concluded with Michelle Dee passing on the title to Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan, who is now our first-ever delegate of Black descent.
The show had its fair share of viral (and meme-worthy) moments. Though what really left an imprint on viewers, specifically the queer boys who religiously tune into the pageant year in and year out, was the opening number by Drag Race alum Marina Summers.
LOOK: Marina Summers Performing at Miss Universe-Philippines 2024
"Filipinas, it's Universe time," Marina announced as she began her performance of AMAFILIPINA. Dressed in show-stopping ensembles by Neric Beltran and Rian Fernandez, the Preview April 2024 cover girl totally tore up the stage.
A little later, she strutted towards the mic and, similarly to a candidate vying for the crown herself, exclaimed: "Marina Summers, the Philippines!"
Marina Summers Made the Impossible Possible
I don't know about you, but witnessing that moment sent goosebumps down my entire body. As a queer person who casually participates in the fanfare, it's always been a fantasy of mine to introduce myself a la beauty queen. And I'm certain that for numerous others across the country, it's been a lifelong dream.
Filipinos, in general, have been loyal to pageantry for decades. There's something to be said about the dynamic quality of Pinoy Pride, and how fervently we rally for our kind to succeed and be adored by the whole world (or the universe, rather.) We annually send the most beautiful women to the global stage, and no matter how they perform, we already look at them as winners. If things don't go in their favor, we cry out and claim that a blatant act of injustice has occurred. That's how passionate we are to see someone like us win. As a third-world nation, a sense of victory is something we collectively and constantly yearn for.
The majority of pageant fanatics are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Not to subject ourselves to stereotypes, but what's not to love about a fierce competition filled with fashionable moments and slight tinges of drama? We venerate beauty queens not just for their looks, but also for what they stand for. They're empowered, intelligent, and aspirational. And for a little gay boy watching the competition in secret, peeking from the staircase and trying to catch the show on the living room TV, a beauty queen is all they wish to be.
But that's something we've been told is impossible. It solely remains as a fantasy for us and nothing more.
But then here comes Marina Summers. A dignified, talented, and downright gorgeous queer individual dominating a stage many of us can only ever dream of stepping on. Up until that moment, people have never seen anyone of her character fulfill the beauty queen fantasy. Something has finally shifted. In her words, "oras na para tayo naman ang rumampa."
Thunderous applause met Marina after she introduced herself on the mic, both inside the Mall of Asia arena and online. Her-story was made, and people felt its seismic effects. At last, every "baklang chikiting" was given the spotlight on a platform they only aspired for beforehand.
The sheer significance of the moment wasn't just for the drag superstar alone. A netizen on Facebook put it perfectly: "Imagine being a young queer kid witnessing this now. Hindi comic relief, hindi na katatawanan, hindi na best friend. Bida. Beautiful. Powerful. Empowering. Aspirational. Queer kids watching this will be changed." In the eyes of the community, Marina was the real winnah of the night.
It's acknowledged that openly LGBTQIA+ women have joined and even won national pageants before, and the representation they've brought forward should not be discounted. Marina's starring moment only added fuel to the flame that yearns for continued visibility.
While pageantry has been criticized for its adherence to certain beauty standards, moments like those of last night's broaden the image we have of what makes a queen the queen. If anything's been made apparent, it's that the crown has no gender identity or sexual orientation.
The Filipino queer experience, at least where it is now in its current state, is all about fulfilling the fantasies we were hindered from manifesting. Royalty such as Marina Summers showcases how these fantasies should not remain as such. A little gay boy now knows that they, too, are deserving of the crown in whatever form it takes. The landscape is changing, and the stage has finally been set for us to strut on.
About the author
Em Enriquez (he/she/they) is a content creator at Preview. They graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Communication, having taken a focus on film, culture, and media studies.
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