Showbiz News

Beauty queens Siera Bearchell and Dani Walker react to Rabiya Mateo's Miss Universe Philippines win

By Bianca Geli

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo's winning moment at the recent Miss Universe Philippines Coronation Night garnered many reactions from pageant enthusiasts all over the globe.

Even renowned beauty queens Siera Bearchell and Dani Walker were moved by Rabiya's performance at the pageant.

Siera Bearchell reigned as Miss Universe Canada 2016 and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2016 held in Manila, Philippines, and placed in the top nine.

The Canadian beauty queen filmed her live reaction during the coronation night and was rooting for Rabiya as the big winner. She said after the coronation, "I was very happy with Miss Iloilo City as the winner of Miss Universe Philippines. I think she's going to do an amazing job at Miss Universe."

In another video, Siera praised Rabiya during the pageant Q&A, calling her answers inspiring and powerful.

She said in her "Winner Full Performance | The Tea!!!" video, "Overall, I thought [Miss] Iloilo gave a flawless, wonderful, beautiful performance. The onstage Q&A, she killed it. It was so good, it was inspiring, it was powerful."

Siera also congratulated Rabiya in an Instagram post. She mentioned how Rabiya is deserving of her crown, along with other newly crowned beauty queens.

Meanwhile, Miss Montana USA 2018 and international pageant coach Dani Walker gave a quick analysis of Rabiya's strengths that earned her the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 crown.

Dani read Rabiya's Q&A answers in a recent vlog and commented, "That's what I was waiting for from someone. I was waiting for someone to be passionate in their delivery and not sound super rehearsed like they had practiced this question a million times and to tell us more of her goals, dreams, and what she wants to do.

"She really went in, I could feel her really asking for that crown. She's like, 'Please, this is what I want to do. Give me this opportunity,' I love that."

Miss Iloilo City Rabiya Mateo was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 on the pageant's coronation night on October 25. She will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Universe 2020 pageant.

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