‘It is not her destiny’: MUP directors react to Rabiya Mateo’s Top 21 Miss Universe finish
Shamcey Supsup and Jonas Gaffud of the Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) organization have now wholeheartedly accepted Rabiya Mateo’s early Miss Universe exit.
The MUP titleholder ended her Miss U journey with a Top 21 finish. She dreamt of bringing home the fifth crown for the Philippines, next to Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
MUP national director Shamcey Supsup, who won third runner-up at Miss Universe 2011, expressed her support for the PH representative. “You have shown us what it means to be relentless, unyielding and unstoppable in the pursuit of your dreams. Despite the setbacks, critics, and failures, you continued to wear the Philippine sash with pride and love,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
“And for that, you are a winner, not just in my eyes but in the hearts of millions of Filipinos around the world. Padayon!” she continued.
Posting a series of shots of Rabiya’s supposed final look at the Miss Universe, Jonas Gaffud—beauty queen maker and MUP’s creative director—captioned an IG snap, “If she made it to the Top Ten, she’d be a great contender for the crown. However, it is not her destiny. So let us move on… On to greater things.”
The prestigious pageant took place on Monday, May 17 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, United States.
Andrea Meza of Mexico has been named Miss Universe, followed by Julia Gama of Brazil (first runner-up), Janick Maceta of Peru (second runner-up), Adline Castelino of India (third runner-up), and Kimberly Jimenez of Dominican Republic (fourth runner-up).
Article thumbnails from the subjects' Instagram accounts