The Inspiration Behind Bea Millan-Windorski’s Metro Cover Looks

It was only fitting that Bea Millan-Windorski’s journey to the Miss Universe 2026 crown would begin with a fashion statement deeply rooted in Filipino heritage. On the cover of Metro, the beauty queen embodies the ultimate Filipina muse, wearing creations by Rhett Eala, Jaggy Glarino, and Joey Samson.

The Inspiration Behind Bea Millan-Windorski’s Metro Cover Looks

The looks were drawn from the three designers’ presentations during Tokyo Fashion Week. Recontextualized for Bea’s cover shoot, the pieces become expressions of Filipino craftsmanship, identity, and modern femininity.

For Randz Manucom, Metro’s Fashion Editor and Creative Director, the concept began with Bea herself. “When we were brainstorming about the concept of the shoot, it really mattered that it’s Bea that we’re shooting, like a true queen, a true winner in herself already,” he says. “It’s really important for us to highlight her as the woman that she already is.”

Behind-The-Scenes of Bea Millan-Windorski’s Metro cover shoot | Photo by Carla Buyo

Rather than treating the shoot as a conventional pre-pageant fashion story, the team envisioned Bea as a woman who already embodies the confidence and presence of a queen. The styling, photography, and selection of designers would reinforce that image while paying tribute to the Filipino fashion industry.

“We had this great idea of presenting Bea as the new Filipino fashion muse, where we dress her up in different Filipino fashion designers, with designs that really hint on elements of being Filipino,” Randz explains. “Whether it be through design, through fabric, through the silhouette, or just inherently the look of the pieces, they are recognizably and undoubtedly Filipino.”

Behind-The-Scenes of Bea Millan-Windorski’s Metro cover shoot | Photo by Carla Buyo

For Eldzs Mejia, the stylist behind Bea’s Metro cover looks, the selection of designers was an intentional decision. Having followed the work presented by Rhett, Jaggy, and Joey in Tokyo, he saw an opportunity to bring their runway creations to life.

“I want to make sure that Bea will be able to represent the Filipino culture and aesthetic in a modern way,” Eldzs says. The choice also reflects the growing relevance of Filipino designers on the global stage. By drawing from collections shown at Tokyo Fashion Week, Metro connects Bea’s pageant journey to a larger conversation about Filipino creativity and its place in international fashion.

Rhett Eala (Look 1 and 2), Jaggy Glarino (Look 3 and 4), Joey Samson (Look 5) from Bench’s Thread of Dreams presentation during Tokyo Fashion Week 2026For Eldzs, the shoot also marks a personal milestone. “Actually, this is my first time working with Bea, and I usually shoot a lot and style a lot of beauty queens just before they compete in the international stage,” he says. “So, in a way, I’m really happy to be part of this journey of hers.”

Behind-The-Scenes of Bea Millan-Windorski’s Metro cover shoot | Photo by Carla Buyo

The moment Bea stepped in front of the camera, the vision came to life. As Randz recalls, “The moment that she stepped for the test shot, it was really instantaneous—we’re in the presence of a queen.” Dressed in Filipino designs, Bea embodies the ultimate Filipina muse ready for the world stage. 

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