PAGEANT Circle

Miss Universe Philippines organization has finally got rid of its minimum height requirements for this year's competition. Maria Thattil, Miss Universe Australia 2020 and 69th Miss Universe Top 10 placer, has lauded the national organization for changing its rules. The age requirement was also adjusted. Although the minimum age is still 18 years old but entrants should be under 28 years old at the time of the national pageant. Other requirements stayed the same. Entrants must be Filipino citizens and Philippine passport holders, at least a high school graduate and female, who has never been married nor has borne children. National director Shamcey Supsup-Lee's statement in an interview regarding transgender women became controversial. She said that they will accept transgender applicants as long as they can provide legal proof of being female and have already gone through reassignment surgery. The organization has yet to announce the final date and venue for Miss Universe Phili

The Miss Universe Philippines organization has already opened applications for its second edition to look for another phenomenal Filipina woman to represent the Philippines at the next Miss Universe. Don’t miss the chance to represent your city or province and advocate for the causes close to your heart at the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant. If you are at least 18 to 27 years old, a Filipino citizen, and at least a high school graduate, you may now submit your application for a chance of becoming the next Miss Universe. No height requirement. Visit the official social media pages of the pageant and the website missuniverseph.com for additional details on how you can be part of the prestigious national event. The Philippines currently holds an 11 consecutive year of placement streak at Miss Universe since 2010 with four runners-up (Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon, and Ariella Arida) and two winners (Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray). Photo: Miss Universe Philippines /

Rabiya Mateo paid homage to former beauty queen and Indian actress Priyanka Chopra in her latest Instagram post as she celebrated over 800,000 followers on the social media platform. The 24-year-old beauty of mixed Filipino and Indian descent shared her "favorite layout shoot" wearing an ensemble inspired by Priyanka's red carpet look at the 2018 Met Gala. "Thank you for the love! I can't believe I already reached 800k followers here on IG. From the bottom of my heart, 'Palangga ko guid kamo tanan' (I really love you all)," Rabiya said in her caption. "Your power comes with acknowledgment," she wrote in another post that also gained over 100,000 likes. Rabiya is currently the most followed delegate in the upcoming 69th Miss Universe pageant. She will compete with over 70 other beauties to win her country's fifth Miss Universe crown in Hollywood, Florida on May 16. Photo & Creative Direction: Seven Barretto / Photography Team: Claude

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo said "I live in a cruel industry" in the caption of the latest video she posted on her official social media page where she appears without makeup. The 24-year-old beauty shared how she is always being compared to different girls and people have always something to say like “you’re not beautiful enough, you’re so thin, I don’t like what you wear.” "But then life is never superficial. It’s not always what’s attractive to our eyes but it’s the love we choose to build, the connection we make to people, and how we want to celebrate ourselves," she said. "This is the real me. No makeup. No heavy hair extensions. Nothing fancy to wear. Just me," she added. "Even in my simplest form, I know in my heart I am nothing less than phenomenal." With the Filipinos being one the biggest pageant fans in the world, Rabiya carries the pressure to win her country's 5th Miss Universe title in the highly anticipated 69th

Rabiya Mateo of the Philippines left Manila for the US last Friday, April 9 ahead of the 69th Miss Universe competition in Florida this May. Wearing a beautiful pearl-encrusted departure outfit by Chino Christopherson and Marc Rancy, the Filipina beauty waved her Philippine flag at the airport with her team. Rabiya is currently one of the most followed contestants on social media along with Amandine Petit of France, Daniela Nicolas of Chile, Ayu Maulida of Indonesia, and Amanda Obdam of Thailand. With the massive support of her Filipino fans backed with impressive credentials and preparations, the 24-year-old physical therapist is definitely one of the front-runners in the upcoming competition. If she wins, Rabiya will join the ranks of the past Miss Universe winners from the Philippines namely Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018). Photo: Rabiya Mateo / Instagram

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 h

Miss Iloilo City, Rabiya Mateo, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 in a competition held at Baguio Country Club in Baguio City and aired on Sunday, October 25. The 23-year-old Ilongga bested 45 other beauties to win the title and succeeded last year’s titleholder Gazini Ganados. She graduated cum laude at the Iloilo Doctor’s College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. Ysabella Ysmael (Parañaque), Michele Gumabao (Quezon City), Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol), and Kimberly Hakenson (Cavite) were the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Rabiya will represent the Philippines at the 69th Miss Universe pageant expected to be held in the first quarter of next year. She will try to win the fifth crown for her country after Catriona Gray (2018), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969). The competition was the first edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant since Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Le