Rabiya Mateo responds to bashers after old photo circulates

Pageant fans are still not over the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 drama, it seems.

As Rabiya Mateo seeks to fulfill her duties as this year’s titleholder, she continues to face intrigue not only about her recent win but also her physical appearance. This, after netizens saw an old Instagram post of a younger “Byang” and took a swipe at her looks.

The incident prompted the new queen to respond to her bashers with an Instagram story. “This is me 11 years ago. I still didn’t have my braces. I don’t how to put makeup. I’m not aware of what angle flatters me most but that is still me,” she wrote.

The challenges she encountered at that time have only helped her bring out a stronger version of herself, she further said. “I was able to invest in myself and practice self-love.”

“If there would be one thing that I want other people to know about me,” the beauty queen continued, “is that I’m beautiful then and now. The only difference is now, I know better.”

Mateo concluded her post with a powerful statement, saying, “PS. Stop calling anyone ugly. If that’s how you see things and maybe then, it’s your soul that needs a surgery.”

Article thumbnails taken from Rabiya Mateo's Instagram account