Rabiya Mateo biography: 13 things about Miss Universe Philippines 2020

Rabiya Occeña Mateo is a Filipino television host, actor and beauty queen of Indian and American descent. She won the inaugural Miss Universe Philippines amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Hailing from Balasan, Iloilo, Philippines, Mateo is the second Ilongga to represent the Philippines in Miss Universe following Louise Aurelio Vail of Jaro, Iloilo, who finished in the Top 15 at Miss Universe 1965 in Miami, Florida, United States.

Born in Balasan to a Muslim Indian-American father and a Filipino mother, Mateo has a younger brother nicknamed Mokmok. Her first name is common among Muslim girls and it means princess or queen in Arabic.

An education advocate, Mateo is part of a charity that helps educate children residing near a dumpsite in Iloilo City. She herself grew up poor.

Mateo is 5’7″ tall. Here are 13 more things about Mateo:

1. She and Mokmok were raised by a single mother, who is Ilongga, after their father left them in 2001. She appreciates the fact that her mother never spoke ill of her father, who is a doctor.
2. In 2009, she received several recognitions including first honorable mention, best in communication and performer of the year from Saint Candida School-Hijas De Jesus Inc. in Estancia, Iloilo, where she completed her secondary education.
3. In March 2018, she graduated cum laude from Iloilo Doctor’s College in Molo, Iloilo City with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. In August 2018, she became a licensed physical therapist by passing the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) board examination.
4. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she used her own money to prepare meals for the frontliners of the Iloilo Doctors Hospital and worked with BULIG of the Jazmin Foundation to raise funds for the frontliners’ personal protective equipment (PPEs) and for the pedicab drivers who lost their jobs. With the help of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Iloilo Chapter, she helped make PPEs at the Iloilo Science and Technology University in La Paz, Iloilo City, according to The Pageant Hub.
5. On January 23, 2020, she was crowned Miss Iloilo Universe 2020 at the Cultural Center of West Visayas State University (WVSU) in La Paz. She also won Miss Smart Communications, Miss Fiesta, Miss Mags and Best in Talent. She is the inaugural holder of the title and it was her first beauty pageant.
6. She worked as a physical therapy lecturer at review centers in different provinces in the Philippines before representing Iloilo City in Miss Universe Philippines 2020, which was her first national beauty pageant. Represented by beauty queen boot camp Aces and Queens, she won the Best in Swimsuit award during the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 preliminary round at the Cordillera Convention Center of Baguio Country Club in Baguio City, Philippines and was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 on October 23, 2020 besting 45 other candidates. The event was not broadcast until October 25, 2020.
7. On May 16, 2021, she represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2020 and competed against 73 other candidates at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida, United States. She finished in the Top 21.
8. On September 30, 2021, she crowned her successor Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines.
9. On January 21, 2022, she crowned her successor Miss Iloilo Universe 2022 Dorothy Marie Gemillan at Richmonde Hotel at the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
10. She is one of the hosts of “TiktoClock”, which premiered on GMA Network on July 25, 2022.
11. On April 29, 2023, she, Gwendolyne Fourniol and Kirk Bondad served as Limgas na Pangasinan 2023 judges at the The Capitol Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines. She played Tasha in “Royal Blood”, which aired on GMA Network from June 19, 2023 to September 22, 2023.
12. On November 14, 2023, she turned 27.
13. She plays Maria Makiling in “Makiling”, which premiered on GMA Network on January 8, 2024. On January 13, 2024, she and Nicole Cordoves hosted Miss Iloilo 2024 at West Visayas State University Cultural Center.