Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up Janine Tugonon is the latest beauty queen to praise newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) Rabiya Mateo.
She revealed that the latter was among her top 3 choices.
In an interview with G3 San Diego, the 31-year-old model recalled, “I already have my bets. Davao and Parañaque, those were my top 2 and then Iloilo. Ako kasi, ang talagang hinahanap ko 'yung Pinay. I really want a Filipina beauty,” she explained.
She's grateful that Rabiya was hailed as the new queen. She noted how she sees the latter as her "little sister."
"She's very, very nice. She’s very sweet. One thing I like about her is you really see how dedicated, how determined she is to win. You would really see that. I saw that when we were watching the closed-door interview. I saw that when we were backstage. You see it in her face, you see it in her movement. 'Yun naman ang gusto ko sa kanya. And she’s very, very pretty I really, really love her look as well,” she said.
So does she think the 24-year-old Filipino-Indian model could bring home the Miss Universe plum?
“I believe she has a huge chance. But of course, it’s hard to tell kapag hindi mo pa nakikita 'yung mga kalaban eh,” she said.