13 things about Miss Grand Jamaica 2025 Matea Mahal Smith

Matea Mahal Pantoja Smith represented the Filipino community of Florida, United States in he fourth edition of Miss Universe Philippines. She represented Jamaica in the 13th edition of Miss Grand International.

BIOGRAPHY

Smith is an American model and beauty queen born in Coral Springs, Florida. She is the youngest child of Seitu Smith, who is Jamaican-American, and Marilou “Mari” Pantoja Smith, who is Filipino.

Born in New York, USA, Seitu is a math teacher at J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs. Born in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, Mari is a digital strategist with relatives in Pililla, Rizal, Philippines.

On January 18, 2025, Matea turned 23. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She was the captain of the track and field and swim team at J.P. Taravella High School. 
2. She has two younger brothers namely Seitu Pantoja Smith II and Semar Pantoja Smith.
3. From 2004 to 2020, she visited eight countries including Jamaica and the Philippines.
4. In 2016, she started to feel pain in her hip, underwent surgery and quit track and field and swim sports after being diagnosed with congenital hip disorder.
5. In 2020, she graduated from J.P. Taravella High School. 
6. In 2021, she entered the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida to pursue a bachelor’s degree in behavior and cognitive neuroscience.
7. She is Miss Coral Springs Teen USA 2021.
8. She was a Miss Florida Teen USA 2021 candidate.
9. She won Miss Filipina International 2023.
10. She is a Miss Universe Philippines 2024 candidate.
11. She was Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 second runner-up.
12. She is Miss Grand Jamaica 2025.
13. She was a Miss Grand International 2025 candidate.

TIMELINE

Matea is 5’4″ tall. She is 9 years younger than Seitu II and 6 years younger than Semar.

2020

• On June 24, 2020, she graduated in the top 3% of her class at J.P. Taravella High School. 
• In November 2020, she was appointed Miss Coral Springs Teen USA 2021.

2021

• On July 3, 2021, she represented Coral Springs at Miss Florida Teen USA 2021, which was her first beauty pageant. She was unplaced.
• In August 2021, she entered the University of Florida.

2022

• In May 2022, she and her mother visited Pililla where she participated in the annual Flores de Mayo procession as Reina Elena.
• In July 2022, she and her family traveled to Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga, Philippines where she was tattooed by Whang-od.

2023

• On August 5, 2023, she represented Rizal at Miss Filipina International 2023 and competed against 35 other candidates at the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, USA. She won the title.

2024

• On May 22, 2024, she represented Florida’s Filipino community at Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and competed against 52 other candidates at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila. She was unplaced.

2025

• On August 9, 2025, she represented and competed against 29 other Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 candidates at AC Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. She was second runner-up to Gabrielle Henry.
• On September 27, 2025, she was officially appointed Miss Grand Jamaica 2025.
• On October 18, 2025, she represented Jamaica at Miss Grand International 2025 and compete against 76 other candidates at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. She was unplaced.