Beauty Queen Bea Rose Santiago speaks out about sexual harassment experiences

SOURCE: “Sexual Harassment is real; not just in pageants, but everywhere!” – Bea Rose Santiago (Photo: @bea.santiago/Instagram)

Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago recently participated in the #MeToo campaign standing up against sexual harassment by sharing her story of experiencing molestation as a child.

Amidst the controversy around the Miss Earth Organization and various candidates claiming to be harassed by a sponsor Amado S.

Cruz, Bea wanted to state that “Sexual Harassment is real; not just in pageants, but everywhere!”

In a Facebook post, Bea reminisces on growing up in Bicol Region and being intensely harassed by a priest who “is still preaching somewhere in Masbate” at the age of 12. She also accounts being 21 years old and being “touched inappropriately by a well-known businessman who is a CEO of a big company,” sharing, “He even organized parties for girls who didn’t win with his friends.” She reports seeing the man again soon after first encountering him, but this time, as a candidate, defending the organizers who “were there to see things thoroughly.”

Within her lengthy post, Bea lists numerous examples like visiting the Congress, taking photos with fans, and just being crowned Queen at an international pageant all still being possible to be inappropriately touched. 

Although Bea admits being “honestly scared to speak up,” she still pursued to share her thoughts to “help the future queens.” In conclusion, Bea states “It happens. No matter how careful you are. No matter how big/popular/old/”religious” a person is, he can still be a pervert.”

Thankfully, Bea receive a lot of support from her fellow beauty queens. Isabella Manjon, Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2011 comments, “You did what is right. This happens everywhere. I had my own experiences, too. That’s why I hate it when people say kasalanan ng babae (it’s the woman’s fault) because of the way they dress.” Miss Earth Air 2012 Stephany Stefanowitz adds, “Thank you, Queen B.”

Bea has been commended often for her bravery this year. Earlier in 2018, she shared with her fans her suffering from a chronic kidney illness from a pre-workout drink that led her to be hospitalized.