Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo hopes to meet her father in the US

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo said she is hoping to meet her father while in the US for the 69th Miss Universe pageant.

The 24-year-old licensed physical therapist has not seen her biological father, an Indian national, for the past 20 years. She told ABS-CBN News, "This is my first time I'm gonna be outside of the country. Yes I'm so excited. It's been my dream to go to US because I really want to see my father."

Knowing his name and date of birth, Rabiya feels there is still hope and she is not giving up on the possibility of meeting him. She added, "I just want to know if he’s alive or not I'm not even sure if he has an idea that I won Miss Universe Philippines."

The Filipina beauty who hails from Iloilo was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 while representing her city during the national pageant held in October last year. She dedicated her victory to her mother who raised her as a single parent.

Rabiya is now preparing to win her country's 5th Miss Universe crown on May 16 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Photo: Rabiya Mateo / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Grand Thailand 2026 is Patthama Jitsawat of Chonburi

Image
Patthama Jitsawat, representing the Thai province of Chonburi, was crowned Miss Grand Thailand 2026 on Saturday, March 28 at MGI Hall in Bangkok. The 32-year-old beauty edged out 76 other contestants to win the national competition. She succeeds last year's winner Sarunrat Puagpipat of Phuket. Panasaya Angelica Damaagd of Buriram was names first runner-up while Ilin Nabsuk of Phuket, Natthakitta Kerdkanchiroj of Saraburi, and Naruemol Chaloemroek of Sukhothai were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's competition marked the 13th edition of the annual Miss Grand Thailand pageant. Reigning Miss Grand International Emma Mary Tiglao from the Philippines was present at the glittering event. The new Miss Grand Thailand will represent the "Land of Smiles" at the Miss Grand International 2026 pageant in India this October. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 饾棤饾椂饾榾饾榾 饾棜饾椏饾棶饾椈饾棻 饾棫饾椀饾棶饾椂饾椆饾棶饾椈饾棻 (@missgrandthailand) P...
Read more

Hanoi's Phan Phuong Oanh is the new Miss World Vietnam

Image
Phan Phuong Oanh was proclaimed the winner of the Miss World Vietnam 2025 pageant held on Sunday, March 29 in Ho Chi Minh City. The 23-year-old international business graduate from Hanoi bested 46 other contestants to clinch the coveted national title. Le Phuong Khanh Nhu and Truong Tam Nhu were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss World Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand and Miss World CEO Morley CBE were special guests at the event. During the show, Vietnam was officially announced as the host country for the 73rd Miss World (Miss World 2026) to be held this summer. The new Miss World Vietnam is expected to represent her country at the 74th Miss World competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss World Vietnam (@missworldvn) Photos: Kieng Can, Miss World Vietnam / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Paraguay 2026 is Gretha Matiauda

Image
Former Miss Earth Paraguay Gretha Matiauda has recently been appointed as her country's official representative in the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. The 24-year-old beauty from Asunci贸n is an economist, international model and entrepreneur. She succeeds last year's titleholder Yanina G贸mez who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025. No stranger to pageantry, Gretha has previously placed fourth runner-up at Miss United Continents 2022 in Ecuador and competed in Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam. In a recent post on social media, she wrote, "Today I begin writing a new story, a new chapter where dreams cease to be promises, and become responsibilities." "Being Miss Universe Paraguay is not just about wearing a crown; it's about carrying the voice of a country, the soul of its people, and the strength of every woman who never stopped believing," she added. The 75th Miss Universe pageant will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Meet the new Miss Universe...
Read more

Miss International Hong Kong 2023 is Verna Leung

Image
Verna Leung edged out five other finalists to be crowned Miss International Hong Kong 2023 on Saturday, July 15 at the 2020 Studio in Hong Kong. The 25-year-old fashion model and pet food bakery owner also bagged the Best in Swimsuit award. She succeeds Rosemary Ling and will now prepare to represent Hong Kong at Miss International 2023 in Japan this October. Lucy Stewart, 22, and Sela Wang, 28, were announced as the first and second runners-up, respectively while Yohanna Fung, Vera Chan, and Erika Yu were the rest Top 6 finalists. Former Miss Hong Kong Hoyan Mok graced the event as one of the distinguished panel of judges. She represented Hong Kong at Miss Universe 1994 in Manila, Philippines. Meet the new Miss International Hong Kong: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss International Hong Kong 鍦嬮殯灏忓棣欐腐浠ｈ〃 (@missinternationalhk) Photos: Chan Tsz Fung, Miss International Hong Kong / Instagram
Read more

Miss World Cayman Islands 2026 is Kristianna Gordon from West Bay

Image
Kristianna Gordon from West Bay has been officially announced as Cayman Islands' representative for the 73rd Miss World competition. The 21-year-old graduate of St. Ignatius Catholic School is a dedicated advocate for empowering youth. She founded her Beauty with a Purpose platform, Unsilenced, which emphasizes child protection, consent, and emotional awareness for young individuals. Through her initiative, she strives to establish safe and supportive environments where young people feel valued, respected, and confident in their self-esteem. The new Miss World Cayman Islands is the granddaughter of Patrick and Celeste Broderick — longstanding leaders in Caymanian pageantry and former national franchise holders for Miss World and Miss Universe. She is also the daughter of Nicole Broderick Gordon, Miss Florida Teen USA 1998. The Miss World 2026 competition will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam this summer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Worl...
Read more

Russia's Varvara Yakovenko wins Miss Intercontinental 2025

Image
Varvara Yakovenko beat over 50 other contestants to win Miss Intercontinental 2025 on Thursday, January 29 at V Hotel Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt. The 18-year-old model became the fourth woman from Russia to hold the international beauty title. She succeeds last year's winner Mar铆a Cepero from Puerto Rico. Lorena Su谩rez Lara from Cuba was named first runner-up while Vanessa Natcha Wenk of Thailand and Faidha Kassim Kivuyo of Tanzania were the second and third runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 7 were Christina Vanhefflin of the Philippines (fourth runner-up), Kika Marques Das Neves of Ecuador (fifth runner-up), and  Brilliant Mukanda Maroko of Kenya (sixth runner-up). Completing the Top 12 finalists were the contestants from Cameroon, Colombia, USA, India, and Romania. Germany, Brazil, Spain, Macau, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Vietnam made the Top 23. Aside winning the crown, the new Miss Intercontinental also bagged the Mis...
Read more

Miss Universe Mexico 2025 is Fatima Bosch of Tabasco

Image
Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2025 on Saturday, September 13 at Sala Placido Domingo (Conjunto Santander de Artes Esc茅nicas) in Zapopan, Jalisco. The 24-year-old designer from Teapa, Tabasco triumphed over 30 other contestants to win the coveted national title. She will represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Fernanda V谩zquez of Nuevo Le贸n was named first runner-up while Yoana Guti茅rrez of Jalisco, Ana Ram铆rez of Nayarit, and Alejandra D铆az de Le贸n of San Luis Potos铆 were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kj忙r Theilvig of Denmark graced the event as special guest while former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera from Puerto Rico was part of the panel of judges. The new Miss Universe Mexico succeeded last year's winner Mar铆a Fernanda Beltr谩n who placed second runner-up at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico City. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram ...
Read more

Reina Hispanoamericana 2026 is Kimberly de Boer from Curacao

Image
Kimberly de Boer of Curacao beat 27 other contestants to win Reina Hispanoamericana 2026 on Saturday, February 21 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The 21-year-old artist and painter from Willemstad became the second woman from Curacao to hold the title next to Evalina Van Putten (2011). Marta Isabel Otero of Colombia placed second (Virreina Hispanoamericana 2026) while Criselys Garcia of the Dominican Republic and Melissa Payr贸 of Mexico were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. The rest of the runners-up were Tiffany Gonz谩lez of Puerto Rico (3rd), Camila Chac贸n of Peru (4th), Emely Barile of Venezuela (5th), and Luz Gonz谩lez of Nicaragua (6th). Completing the Top 13 finalists were from Bolivia, Eugenia Redin, Canada, Malayika Kwizera, Ecuador, Ami Ocampo, Panama, Anayansi De Grac铆a, and the Philippines, Beatriz Mclelland. This year's competition marked the 34th edition of the annual international pageant dedicated to Hispanic heritage, language, and culture. ...
Read more

Former Miss Earth USA Bea Millan-Windorski joins Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Image
Filipino-American Bea Millan-Windorski has recently been appointed as the official representative for the province of La Union at Miss Universe Philippines 2026. At just 24 years old, she is well-acquainted with the world of pageantry, having participated in Miss Earth USA 2024 in Orlando, Florida, where she clinched the title while representing Wisconsin. This achievement made her the first Filipino-American to secure a national title. As Miss Earth USA, she went on to compete in Miss Earth 2024 in the Philippines, where she impressively placed in the Top 4 out of 76 contestants, earning the title of Miss Earth Water. Bea's grandparents on her mother's side were Filipino immigrants from La Union, Philippines. Following her Miss Earth journey, she relocated to the country. In a recent social media post, she paid tribute to Filipino migrants, stating: "As someone whose family history is shaped by migration, I grew up honoring the courage, homesickness, and hard work of Fili...
Read more

Meet the winners of Miss Turkey 2025

Image
The glittering Miss Turkey 2025 national competition was held last December 19 at the Lazzoni Hotel in Istanbul. A total of 20 stunning finalists were chosen to compete for the national titles that were at stake — Miss Turkey World and Miss Turkey Supranational. S谋la Saraydemir, a 22-year-old student, was crowned Miss Turkey World 2025. She is expected to represent Turkey at the 73rd Miss World competition whose date and venue have yet to be announced. The new Miss Turkey World received her crown and sash from former titleholder, Miss Turkey World 1995 Demet 艦ener. Last year's winner Idil Bilgen was unable to attend the show and pass the crown to her successor because she is currently abroad for her studies. "Today I received not a crown, but a responsibility. Winning Miss Turkey is a shared story of women who believe in their dreams, aren't afraid to make their voices heard, and empower each other," S谋la shared online after the competition. "I thank everyone who...
Read more