Another international beauty queen has joined the bandwagon in praising newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo.
"I love the winner! She's beautiful! She looks like my daughter (Isabelle Daza). She's super ganda," said Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, when asked about her impressions of Mateo, during a Zoom interview with the cast of the new family-oriented series "Oh, My Dad!" on TV5, Friday. Diaz added: "She's very natural."
Even Jeffrey Jeturian, award-winning director of "OMD," also praised Mateo. "She deserves to win!"
Earlier, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Universe 2018 Gloria Diaz have welcomed Mateo to the Miss Universe Philippines family.
Diaz said losing candidates who complain of cheating is not new in the pageant world.
"It's always like that taon-taon. Kapag natalo sasabihin dinaya sila. Join na lang ng join hanggang sa manalo," said the first Miss Universe from the Philippines.
Diaz encouraged girls to give their best in joining pageants.
"I think the best age to join these days would be 22? Pero puwede na yata sumali ngayon kahit 27," she said.
Diaz also said that pageants are a good venue for girls to be discovered for show business and modeling.
Mateo is now preparing to compete in the 2020 Miss Universe beauty pageant at a venue to be announced later.
“OMD” was conceptualized by film producer Atty. Joji Alonso of Quantum Films for Brightlight Productions under Albee Benitez, Pat P. Daza and Corinna Vistan.
Also starring in OMD are Ian Veneracion, Dimples Romana, Sue Ramirez, Ariel Ureta, among others.
In OMD, Ian plays Matthew, a popular basketball player. He is named Most Valuable Player aside from being a much sought-after endorser.
His good name is besmirched, however, when he gets involved in a scandal that forces him to leave the Philippines for the US.