It’s a truth universally acknowledged: Filipinos expect more from their beauty queens than their politicians. Rabiya Occeña Mateo, the lovely Ilongga lass representing the Philippines at the 69th Miss Universe pageant, is doing her best to bring home the country’s fifth crown. But some fans are insatiable, toxic and cruel. Still, the cum laude physical therapy graduate and educator is firmly holding on to her front-runner status.
Throughout the pageant, which culminates in the morning of May 17 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, Rabiya, 24, assuredly carried a massive flag-inspired national costume created by the late Rocky Gathercole, sashaying like a Victoria’s Secret Angel. She delivered a sultry performance in a yellow Ema Savahl bikini in the swimsuit round, and was radiant in a Furne One for Amato Couture lemon yellow confection.
THE GOLD BAR
Sometime in May 2020, amid the pandemic, reigning Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa held a virtual talk with Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta of India.
“Do you think pageants still look the same? Is there any change in what they stand for?” Zozi asked Lara, who holds the record of having the highest score in interview of all time at Miss Universe, with 9.95.
“Oh for sure. Over the last seven years, within the Miss India Organization itself, I’ve had the opportunity of mentoring the girls we’ve sent to represent India at the Miss Universe so I know the parameters itself are tremendously different from what they stood out 20 years ago when we won.
“The Miss Universe pageant has always had a profile where the women who have won have always been far beyond just what they look like and what you know ‘beauty’ sort of epitomizes in the conventional sense. As you know, Zozi, we’ve always been used as advocates and very aggressively so in the various causes we’ve had the chance to sort of propagate and be part of.”
Incidentally, Rabiya’s absentee father is Indian. Miss Australia Maria Thattil, 28, is the shortest candidate in her batch at 5’4 but is certainly the most articulate on issues such as inclusivity, equality and empowerment. Lara’s protegee, Miss India Adline Castelino, 22, is a top model who collaborates with SNEHA, an organization that provides affordable health care to women.
BLOODBATH: UPSTARTS VS POWERHOUSES
Though with only 74 contestants, the lowest since 2003’s 71, so many candidates did not come to play. They’re killing it in the styling department. Slaying in their Instgaram stories. But who will scream bloody murder after all this is over? Perhaps the powerhouses Brazil, Colombia, the USA and Venezuela when an upstart snatches the crown.
The (deserving) pretenders to the throne seeking to win their country’s first title:
Czech Republic’s Klára Vavrušková, 21, a dental hygiene student, who was Miss Earth Water 2019. Her beautiful face, and her Michael Cinco evening gow, could propel her to the finals. Iceland’s Elísabet Hulda Snorradóttir, 22, ice-cool like a Hitchcock blond, has a bachelor’s degree in Chinese studies.
Ayu Maulida Putri, 23, “believes that everyone should have access to proper education and health care and cofounded Senyum Desa/Smiling Village, an association that helps rural areas in Indonesia.” An ebony enchantress, Miqueal-Symone Williams, 24, created “The Bloom Initiative,” which provides Internet access to Jamaican children who cannot attend their online classes.
The elegant Nepalese Anshika Sharma, 24, has a foundation that supports 24 students who were on the verge of dropping out. She holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Central Queensland University, Australia.
Another Michael Cinco muse is the ravishing Romanian, Bianca Lorena Tirsin, a 22-year-old business administration student who was a Miss Supranational 2017 second runner-up and a Miss International 2018 third runner-up. She was trained by Pinoy veteran pageant coach Makoy Manlapaz.
(Watch out also for Curacao’s Chantal Wiertz, Laos’ Christina Lasasimma, Nicaragua’s Ana Marcelo, and Russia’s Alina Sanko.)
Holding the fort, along with Dominican Republic’s Kímberly Jiménez and Mexico’s Andrea Meza (Bessie Badilla vibes):
Gladys Zender won Peru’s first crown in 1957. The gorgeous Janick Maceta del Castillo, 27, is hoping to win another one in time for their country’s bicentennial celebrations in July. An audio engineer at New York’s iconic The Manhattan Center, she also advocates for sexually abused children.
I thought she looked like glamorous Madeleine Stowe but the kids only know Emily Blunt. Estefanía Natalia Soto Torres, 29, might just win Puerto Rico’s sixth crown. She has a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and a master’s degree in intercultural mediation with a sociological, anthropological and gender perspective. A serious threat.
Thailand’s excellent placements continue with Amanda Obdam, who graduated with honors from the University of Toronto with a degree in business administration. This year’s fashion plate is a co-founder of Batika Studio, a product line honoring traditional batik art through sustainable everyday clothing and tote bags.
South Africa’s fairy tale might have a happy ending with Natasha Joubert, 23, a social activist and a Play Your Part ambassador for Brand South Africa. “I pledge to play my part to contribute to a positive future and champion leadership and entrepreneurship.”
The ethereal Amandine Petit, 23 is studying for her master’s degree in social, sanitary and gerontological management. The IMG/Miss Universe Era began with the reign of the Philippines’s Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, followed by Iris Mittenaere of France, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa, the Philippines again with Catriona Gray, and South Africa again with Zozibini Tunzi. Would it be too far-fetched if France again wins?
THE BEAUTY OF ACTIVISM
THE delegates are deeply involved in women’s rights, domestic-abuse survivors and Covid-relief volunteerism. Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay, is proudly LGBT and flaunted a rainbow flag in the national costume show. Miss Singapore Bernadette Belle Ong, of Filipino descent, wore a cape emblazoned with “Stop Asian Hate.”
The superlative Nova Stevens of Canada, 26, is a cofounder and spokesman for “Freedom March Vancouver” and “Black Freedom Society” whose mission is to eradicate hate and racism experienced daily by black and indigenous people of color. A refugee from South Sudan, Nova follows in the supermodel footsteps of Alek Wek, Ajak Deng, Duckie Thot, Adut Akech and Grace Bol.
Her luggage was lost in transit but this didn’t faze the awesome Thuzar Wint Lwin, 22. Her fighting form never wavered at the Miss Universe, just as she valiantly fought breast cancer and the injustices happening in her country as she bravely foisted a “Pray for Myanmar” placard at the national costume show. In early February, she posted on her Instagram: “They blind us. They tie us. But our cries are louder than their violence….”