Rabiya Mateo recently shared that she has been dealing with major depressive disorder and anxious distress.
Photo: Rabiya Mateo/Instagram
In a Facebook post, the beauty queen and TV host opened up about her mental health journey, revealing that she was diagnosed in 2025. She included a screenshot of her medical certificate dated January 7, 2025, confirming her condition.
“[In] 2025, I was diagnosed with depression and anxious distress. I had my several rounds of medication. I left the country for [three] months, so I won’t get triggered by people who have no idea what I’ve been going through,” she wrote.
She went on to describe how difficult her daily life had been, saying, “Every day was a struggle to survive.” Rabiya also mentioned that she almost deactivated her social media accounts and disappeared in search of a quieter, more peaceful life.
“I fought hard and still fighting up until now,” she added.
She also spoke about how small acts of kindness made a difference for her during this time. “You don’t know how little kindness means to a depressed person like me and how your words can push me to do something else,” she said.
Rabiya Mateo won the Miss Universe Philippines title in 2020 and later represented the country on the international stage, finishing as a top 21 semifinalist.
She entered show business after signing with GMA Network in November 2021 under Sparkle GMA Artist Center. Since then, she has appeared in programs such as Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Agimat ng Agila, and Royal Blood. She is currently part of the long-running gag show Bubble Gang.
ALSO READ: An Open Letter to Anyone Who Feels Tired of Holding It Together
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com’s Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com community at WIM Squad, and join our Viber group to stay updated with the latest around the Philippines and beyond!
