From evening gowns to medical gowns. That is now the story of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo as she starts her journey to becoming Doctor Mateo.
Photo: Rabiya Mateo/Instagram
After spending her early 20s as the primary breadwinner for her family and putting her personal ambitions on hold, the 29-year-old former beauty queen is finally choosing herself and stepping into the medical uniform she always dreamed of wearing.
”I decided to go back to my studies simply because I think I’m done with my responsibility as the breadwinner of my family,” Mateo shared. “I have sent my brother to school. He’s already done, I already bought my mama a house. So now, I think I have all the time to focus on my goal and my dreams of becoming a doctor.”
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Growing up in Iloilo, the former beauty queen did not always have an easy life. Her Indian father left them when she was a child, leaving her single mother as the sole provider for their family.
Long before entering pageantry, the aspiring physician had to work hard to support herself as an academic scholar at Iloilo Doctors’ College. She eventually graduated cum laude with a degree in physical therapy and went on to become a top lecturer at a board review center.
After gaining financial stability, Mateo decided to pursue a pageant career.
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Pageantry had been on her radar since she was 13, when she saw Venus Raj, a Filipino-Indian queen, compete in Binibining Pilipinas 2010. Drawing inspiration from Raj’s similar roots, Mateo went on to win the Miss Universe Philippines crown in 2020.
Her pageant journey was not without its hurdles—from battling unproven cheating rumors to breaking down on Instagram Live after facing intense online backlash over her national costume. She proved her resilience at every step, proudly bringing the Philippines into the Top 21.
Fast-forward to March 2026, and Mateo went viral once again—but this time for all the right reasons.
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When she revealed her National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) score, netizens were left in awe by her 741 General Performance Score, placing her in the top 99th percentile nationwide.
The achievement even prompted hilarious social media memes comparing her to Linda Walker, the iconic genius character from the viral micro-drama The Heiress Who Won With Brains, to which Mateo cheekily responded: “Sorry na, Linda Walker!”
On August 13, 2026, wearing her clinical white uniform, Mateo walked through the iconic Arch of the Centuries at the University of Santo Tomas—her dream university—during its annual Thomasian Welcome Rites, launching her academic journey toward earning an MD degree.
”At 29, I feel like I’m a kid fulfilling her dreams, and this is an opportunity for me to have a Round 2 for my studies. Just like in my pre-med taking up physical therapy, I’m really gonna give my best,” said Mateo, expressing her excitement for the brand-new chapter in her life.
ALSO READ: Bea Millan-Windorski Is Miss Universe Philippines 2026
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