By Cedie Lazaro
Samantha Bernardo is no stranger to the spotlight. From her iconic 1st Runner-Up finish at Miss Grand International 2020 to her unforgettable, resilient run in the Pinoy Big Brother house, “SamBer” has spent years mastering the art of commanding a room. But today, at 35 weeks pregnant, the Palawan-born beauty queen is stepping into what she calls her most defining role yet: motherhood.
Instead of treating her third trimester as a period of stepping back, Samantha is using her platform to showcase a fierce, unapologetic, and empowering take on pregnancy. Through high-fashion maternity visuals, vocal body positivity, and a modern approach to birth preparation, she is proving that “Queen Energy” doesn’t stop when a baby is on the way—it simply evolves.
Photos: Courtesy of Samantha Bernardo
“Grand Queen Mom Energy”
Many traditional pregnancy tropes lean heavily into quiet, conservative expectations. Samantha completely subverted those norms with her latest maternity photoshoot, which she aptly captioned as channeling “Grand Queen Mom Energy.”
Shot with high-fashion editorial flair, the imagery highlights her growing belly not as something to hide under oversized silhouettes, but as a symbol of strength and biological wonder. It is a visual celebration of the female form that bridges the gap between Miss Grand glamour and raw maternal power. For millennial and Gen Z women, the message is loud and clear: pregnancy can be a time of peak confidence and high fashion.
Supporting Her Sisterhood from the Nest
Even as she steps away from the stage to focus on her upcoming delivery, Samantha proves that a true queen never stops supporting her sisterhood. Showing her unwavering dedication to Philippine pageantry, she recently sent out a massive wave of love and good luck wishes to the Filipina delegates competing at the Miss Grand International (MGI) All Stars 2026 competition in Bangkok, Thailand.
With iconic Filipina queens like Gazini Ganados, Fuschia Anne Ravena, Imelda Schweighart, Alexia Núñez, and Keylyn Trajano representing the country, Samantha’s veteran encouragement serves as the ultimate moral boost. Her heartfelt nod to the all-star delegates highlights her enduring legacy as a queen maker and a passionate advocate for Team Philippines on the global stage.
True queen energy requires vulnerability, and Samantha has been remarkably transparent about the realities of her third-trimester body. She has openly shared her routine with her followers, showing how she nurtures her wellness through prenatal Pilates, mindfulness, and proper nutrition.
By documenting her physical changes, she serves as a modern blueprint for body positivity. Samantha’s journey reminds women that loving your changing body is a vital part of preparing for birth. Her updates encourage expectant mothers to stay active, prioritize mental peace, and honor their bodies’ capabilities.
Preparing for the Ultimate Crowning Moment
Samantha’s progressive mindset extends far beyond her wardrobe. Alongside her husband, Scott Moore, she has spent her final weeks attending intensive prenatal and newborn care classes.
Most notably, Samantha revealed that she is training to attempt a natural water birth. This choice reflects her holistic approach to parenting—relying on mental fortitude, physical endurance, and breathwork to bring her baby boy into the world. It is the ultimate test of endurance, a crowning moment that requires the exact same grit she displayed on the global pageant stage.
As she enters the final stretch before welcoming “Baby S” this mid-year, Samantha Bernardo is showing the world that becoming a mother doesn’t mean diminishing your identity. If anything, it expands it. She is still the crown-bearing icon her fans fell in love with—now, she is just adding a new, permanent title to her name: Mom.
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Janeena Chan is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine right now. The multihyphenate media star, in-demand host, singer, actress, Sparkle artist, and our very own Stylish correspondent shares her journey as a modern Filipina-Chinese woman navigating her career in entertainment and lifestyle while embracing her heritage.
Read the Stylish Magazine January-February 2026 cover story here.
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