Rabiya Mateo Speaks About Controversial Win As Miss Universe PH 2020

After winning Miss Universe PH 2020, Rabiya Mateo faces issues and here’s what she said about this.

RABIYA MATEO – Crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 has this hit back to all those who doubted capabilities to win the crown and the pageant.

This year is the first edition of Miss Universe Philippines not under the Binibining Pilipinas. 40 candidates represented their cities and provinces and the one who bested out is Iloilo City’s Rabiya Mateo. She may not be among the frontrunners but during the preliminary rounds, she won Best in Swimsuit award.

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Aside from her Furne One-designed swimwear, she also turned heads wearing her costume portraying Maniwantiwan, the wife of Marikudo and in her exquisite red long gown. But what highlighted her journey are the answers she made during the Question and Answer portion. However, it seems some of her fellow candidates were bitter about her winning the competition.

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With all the issues that she is going through after victory, she admitted that she is not one of the candidates who people expected to win but she is sure that she did everything. In an interview with MJ Marfori of TV5, she emotionally noted the doubts she received when all she ever did is accordingly to make Iloilo City proud.

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“Of course it was painful because there are things na you can settle by talking with each other. At the end of the day, this is a competition and being the bigger person in the picture, I need to understand where they are coming from,” she added.

Mateo is a physical therapy lecturer and this is her first experience to join a pageant. She graduated as a cum laude of Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in Iloilo Doctor’s College.

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Meanwhile, among the strongest contenders in the pageant were Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx and Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao but below are MUP 2020’s top 5 finalists: