Despite not bringing home the crown, PH’s bet to Miss Universe 2020 Rabiya Mateo earned admiration from fellow beauty queens and celebrities.
On Monday, Mateo ended her Miss Universe journey when she failed to enter the Top 10.
At least, she was able to maintain the placement streak of the Philippines in Miss Universe for 11 years now.
Miss Universes Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray said that they are still proud of Mateo.
Woooow this year is intense!! 😲 Sending Rabiya all of our love! She made our country proud! 💛 11 Year consecutive semi-streak Pilipinassss 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭 #MissUniverse
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) May 17, 2021
RABIYA WE LOVE YOU thank you for pouring your heart for the Philippines ❤ We see your heart Queen #MissUniverse
— Pia Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) May 17, 2021
Rabiya you made us so proud! We know you put your heart into this and we love you! Mabuhay ang Pinay! 🇵🇭 #MissUniverse
— Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey (@PiaWurtzbach) May 17, 2021
Upon announcement on the Top 10, Pia needed some time to digest the result as the Philippines was out of the game.
Ok, I'm back. I needed a minute to digest that. #MissUniverse 💔💔💔
— Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey (@PiaWurtzbach) May 17, 2021
She also reminded everyone to be kind on social media and avoid bashing Mateo.
And reminding everyone to PLEASE BE KIND. ❤ #AribaRabiya #MissUniverse
— Pia Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) May 17, 2021
Other former Miss Universe Philippines queens also showed their utmost support for Mateo.
Rabiya langga love you so much!!!!! 🥺👑✨
— MJ Lastimosa (@MJ_Lastimosa) May 17, 2021
RABIYAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
— MJ Lastimosa (@MJ_Lastimosa) May 17, 2021
Kaya ko pa bang mag video pagtinatawag si rabiya? Di na siguro mga mars 😂😂😂😂 leche pic.twitter.com/R17dnUzbPz
— MJ Lastimosa (@MJ_Lastimosa) May 17, 2021
Mahal ka namin Rabiya! Salamat sa pagrepresenta sa ating bansa! You worked so hard and we are proud of you. 🇵🇭🇵🇭
— Janine Mari Tugonon (@janine_tugonon) May 17, 2021
Beauty of face!!!!!! And rampa!!! That’s Rabiya!!!! Labaannnn
— Ariella Arida (@araarida) May 17, 2021
#AribaRabiya 👑👑👑🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
— Ariella Arida (@araarida) May 17, 2021
On Mateo’s Instagram post, she was also flooded with love and support by her fellow beauty queens including Karen Ibasco, Samantha Bernardo, Jehza Huelar, Katarina Rodriguez, Sharifa Akeel, Mutya Datul, Eva Patalinjug, Cynthia Thomalla, and Joanna Eden.
View this post on Instagram
Celebrities also joined in celebrating Mateo’s placement, saying that they are proud of her while some expressed their dismay with the result.
#MissUniverse
Thank you Rabiya! We love you!!!!! #PHILIPPINES— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) May 17, 2021
Sorry late reaction!! Reh for asap today! Pag balik ko sa phone. OMG! Ang bilis ng ganap mga besh! 😱 but still proud of Ms Philippines Rabiya!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 nung nag win ang Mexico and nakita ko judge and yung host and flow ng event latin. Parang…yeah!! Hahhaa CHAROT LANG!! 😅eme!
— kim chiu (@prinsesachinita) May 17, 2021
Anu daw nangyari? Paano naging ganun???… 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 please enlighten me. 😅 hindi Brazil? Not Peru? Not India? 😱 No Thailand? No South Africa? At higit sa lahat walang Philippines?!!!!🤯😱🤭🤔 ano daw???
— kim chiu (@prinsesachinita) May 17, 2021
Aga ko nagising 🥲🥲🥲🥲
— Chienna Filomeno (@ChieFilomeno) May 17, 2021
Whaaaaaat!
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) May 17, 2021
???? well that was unexpected
— Maris Racal (@MissMarisRacal) May 17, 2021
Keep shining bright, Rabiya! Sending you all our love! 🇵🇭✨🌞 #MissUniverse
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) May 17, 2021
We are still proud of you Rabiya! 👏👏👏🙌❤🇵🇭 #RabiyaMateo #Philippines #MissUniverse2021
— Jhong hilario (@jhongsample) May 17, 2021
Rabiya Mateo delivered.
Nagsikap, ginalingan, lumaban, at ginawa ang lahat para sa Pilipinas.
Wala siyang pagkukulang.
She even did more than what she was asked—she gave us hope. At yung pag-asa ang kailangan na kailangan ng mga Pinoy ngayon.
Mahal ka namin, Rabiya! 💙💛❤️
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) May 17, 2021
We're so proud of you Rabiya! Thank you for representing us! Waving our flag was your calling and you did it with such beauty and grace! This is the beginning of your new journey to being a catalyst for good and change in the world. Mabuhay! That is a true #MissUniverse 🇵🇭🌞🙌 pic.twitter.com/wSk011dDEi
— Mikey Bustos (@MikeyBustos) May 17, 2021
Congratulations Rabiya! Wala kang dapat ikahiya. You did your best and I saw that here everyday in Florida. We believed in you upto the very end. Salamat for giving your all para sa Pilipinas 🇵🇭
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) May 17, 2021
With Mateo’s placement, the Philippines is in an 11-year placement streak in Miss Universe. This streak was started by Venus Raj in 2010, the drought breaker.
Andrea Meza of Mexico was hailed as the new Miss Universe.
