Rabiya Mateo recalls humble beginnings: I had nothing in life

Rabiya Mateo. Image from Instagram

Kapuso actress and host Rabiya Mateo is grateful for all the breaks that came her way, and the doors that opened after she joined the Miss Universe pageant.

However, there are times when she would look back on her humble beginnings as a simple Iloilo lass trying to make ends meet, that buying new clothes was a luxury she could sometimes not afford.

“Looking back then, I would say that style was never my priority. Because I had nothing in life, hindi ko priority na bumili ng magagandang damit kasi ang priority ko was to survive life (it was never my priority to buy pretty clothes because my priority was to survive life),” she said in an interview with INQUIRER.NET during her launch as endorser of a clothing brand.

As one of the freshest faces on Philippine television, the 2020 Miss Universe Philippines titleholder has been introduced as Diwata in the new GMA afternoon prime series “Makiling.” She is also seen on the daily late afternoon variety show “TiktoClock.”

Mateo said her she was just happy with the way her career and her life is turning out to be, since being proclaimed as the first-ever Miss Iloilo, before she embarked on the national pageant stage. “I won with nothing. I had nothing.”

“This serves to remind myself to always be grateful and thankful for everything that is happening. It’s not every day that a brand will come and give you their trust. And, of course, I also have my team with me, my photographers, videographers, to whom I say that since the brand trusts me, I really need the best output, and portfolio, so I can give back for the trust I received from them,” she said.

Rabiya Mateo./ARMIN P. ADINA

Regardless of her background, Mateo was able to develop her own sense of fashion, and it reflects in her style whether she is wearing a couture gown or a plain sundress.

Now that she is thriving in the entertainment industry, and with every article of clothing she would want at her disposal, the Ilongga beauty said she still goes for comfort over style.

“I have to make sure that I am comfortable in the clothes that I am wearing, that it doesn’t show so much skin, that I can present myself in front of a lot of people while wearing that dress,” Mateo shared.

The 2020 Miss Universe semifinalist, however, revealed that she has a preferred hue if given the liberty to decide on it. “If it would be up to me, in terms of color, I always believe that red is power,” declared Mateo, who wore a heavily embellished scarlet gown with flowy cape sleeves when she won her the national crown.

She also shared her thoughts on ladies who put an emphasis on fashion. “Now there are many who will choose to be stylish, even if they are no longer comfortable. And budget-wise, they choose really expensive pieces, it’s no longer practical,” she said.