(From left) Rabiya Mateo, Celeste Cortesi. Image: Instagram/@rabiyamateo
Celeste Cortesi and Rabiya Mateo quashed rumors of any conflict between them following speculation about their social media “unfollowing,” as the two beauty queens recently took a car selfie together.
Talks of the country’s two Miss Universe titleholders unfollowing each other on Instagram circulated in the pageant community, leading to speculations that all is not well between them. The beauty queens, however, proved tattlers wrong when Mateo shared a photo of herself with her Miss Universe Philippines successor.
“Nothing but love [heart emoji] @celeste_cortesi,” Mateo said in the caption.
The former Pasay City representative expressed her love for the Kapuso star in the comments saying, “Love you always!!”
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@rabiyamateo
Fans of the beauty queens appeared to be elated over Rabiya and Cortesi getting along in the comments, as some requested netizens to stop making assumptions about their friendship.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@rabiyamateo
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@rabiyamateo
Meanwhile, Cortesi playfully put a stop to the rumors by sharing a video of herself with Mateo on her Instagram Stories. The post, which had since expired, has been reshared by pageant platform The Qrown Philippines.
“Hi guys, I’m here with my unfollower,” Cortesi quipped, while Mateo could be heard laughing in the background, before she was shown on screen. “Guys, no issue between us. We love each other. There’s no drama. So sleep well.”
Mateo then playfully chimed in, saying, “But we love the drama,” to which the Filipina-Italian stunner agreed.
Cortesi also shared a similar selfie with Rabiya on her personal Twitter page, as a way of addressing the “Marites” who brought up the issue.
“Para sa mga maritess. Wala po kaming issue (For the Marites. We don’t have any issue). Haha. Nothing but love for this amazing woman,” she wrote.
Para sa mga maritess. Wala po kaming issue. Haha. Nothing but love for this amazing woman. 🦋 pic.twitter.com/xkXxUcGmki
— Celeste Cortesi (@SCCortesi) May 23, 2023
Contrary to the speculations, it can be noted that both MUPh titleholders are following each other on Instagram.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@rabiyamateo
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
Mateo was crowned as the country’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant in 2020, where Mexico’s Andrea Meza was named as the winner. Since then, she kicked off her acting career as a talent of GMA.
Meanwhile, Cortesi was named as Miss Universe Philippines 2022, but she didn’t advance to the Top 16 at the global tilt. Months after her surprise cameo in the finale of “Mars Ravelo’s Darna,” she passed on her MUPH crown to Michelle Dee. EDV