On October 25, Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020. However, her shining moment came with several issues from her fellow contestants and pageant fans online. In an interview with MJ Marfori for TV5, Rabiya was asked for her reaction to the controversies surrounding her win.
MORE MISS UNIVERSE STORIES:
- Rabiya Mateo Is Crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020
- Read Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo's Winning Answers Here!
The beauty queen turned emotional as she said: "To be honest po, maybe because I wasn't a frontrunner, so people didn't expect me to win. And now that I have the crown...I'm sorry I'm being emotional. They are questioning my capability as a person, as a candidate. But I know that I did everything and anything that I could during that night. And binigay ko talaga. And yung mga nagsasabi na the question was given to me, that's why I answered that way, it wasn't given po sa akin. I did everything that I could because I want to make Iloilo City proud."
Rabiya added: "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're coming from."
ICYMI, Rabiya's fellow Miss Universe PH candidate Sandra Lemonon posted a series of *cryptic* messages on Instagram Stories yesterday and pageant fans pointed out that these must be related to the competition. Sandra wrote: "Get ready loves, tomorrow I will be announcing big news, it's time to be honest and speak facts." This was followed by: "The truth always comes out, it's just about timing, Karma is real. [Tea emoji + clock emoji] soon. Because we deserve justice."
Miss Universe Philippines Organization national director Shamcey Supsup posted on Instagram Stories yesterday to say: "To bear defeat with dignity, to criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility—these are the marks of a true QUEEN." Many fans wondered if she was referring to Sandra's posts.
Sandra Lemonon posted more IG Stories, saying: "Get your tea. Accepting defeat graciously is one of [the] many marks of being a beauty queen. But what you forgot to say is that REAL queens play FAIR, don't CHEAT."
She also reposted a tweet that said: "Sandra Lemonon lost to Catriona Gray twice and she never mentioned any injustices and unfair treatment in the past. Therefore, there's really something wrong that made her speak up not only for herself, but also for the other contestants." Again, she added the tea and clock emoji, with the word "soon."
MORE MISS UNIVERSE STORIES:
- Rabiya Mateo Is Crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020
- Read Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo's Winning Answers Here!
As of the writing of this article, Sandra's most recent post reads: "Defensive behavior is a barrier for communication. Only people without [a] clear conscience should be afraid of the truth. Sweet dreams."
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