Iloilo’s bet Rabiya Mateo was crowned Miss Universe-Philippines 2020 on Sunday, October 25th. The pageant’s finals was held at the Baguio Country Club’s Cordillera Convention Hall.
Rabiya, 22, bested more than 40 candidates, among them are other pageant favorites like Ysabella Ysmael of Parañaque City who was named first runner-up; Michele Gumabao of Quezon City, second runner-up; Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol, third runner-up; and Kimberly Hakenson of Cavite, fourth runner-up.
Miss Universe-Philippines 2020 is the first stand-alone pageant to bring a Filipino candidate to the Miss Universe pageant, after the Miss U organization parted ways with Binibining Pilipinas and named Shamcey Supsup-Lee the national director late last year.
Shamcey, herself, was a Bb. Pilipinas title holder who placed third runner-up in Miss Universe 2011.
Meanwhile, the Miss Universe-Philippines 2020 panel of judges included Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, ACT-CIS Partylist representative Eric Yap, Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon, and Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner-up Ariella Arida. Also in the list are Baguio first lady Arlene Magalong, Jackie C. Aquino, Samuel Salonga Versoza Jr., Raymond delos Santos, Venus Navalta, and Arthur Peña.
The pageant’s top 16 also included candidates from Biliran (Lazada’s Choice), Albay, Aklan, Cebu City, Davao City, Cebu Province, Misamis Oriental, Mandaue, Taguig City, Romblon, and Pasig City.