After Miss Universe loss, Filipina queens thank Rabiya Mateo for 'making us proud'

Rabiya Mateo may not have taken home the Miss Universe crown, but she sure made her fans and colleagues in the Filipino pageant community very proud.

Several Pinay beauty queens expressed support for Rabiya right to the very end of the pageant on Monday, posting sweet messages for her on social media.

Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray, who respectively won Miss Universe in 2015 and 2018, began what later on became a collective expression of pride and gratitude for the Filipina Miss Universe hopeful.

“Thank you for making us proud, Rabiya,” Catriona wrote in her IG stories, tagging the Philippine bet.

Pia, on the other hand, wrote to Rabiya in a story saying: “Our beautiful Rabiya we’re so proud of you we know how much heart you put into this. And we love you for it."

"I can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll do when you come back home, future as bright as the sun. You are our queen!" Pia added.

Gazini Ganados, who represented the Philippines in the last Miss Universe pageant in 2019, also posted a message to Rabiya, saying how proud she was of her.

"You have represented the Philippines with beauty and grace. We love you," Gazini wrote in her story.

Meanwhile, former beauty queen Shamcey Supsup told the Miss Universe Philippines she was still a winner not just in her eyes but also "in the hearts of millions of Filipinos around the world."

“You have shown us what it means to be relentless, unyielding and unstoppable in the pursuit of your dreams," Shamcey wrote in an Instagram post. "Despite the setbacks, critics and failures, you continued to wear the Philippine sash with pride and love."

Other Pinoy queens who sent their love to Rabiya include Reina Hispanoamericana Winwyn Marquez, 2013 Miss World Megan Young, and Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up Miriam Quiambao.

Mexico's Andrea Meza was crowned the winner of the 69th Miss Universe pageant held Monday, May 17 in Hollywood, Florida.

Rabiya Mateo took the Philippines all the way to the Top 21, before bowing out of the competition. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News