Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo hopes to meet her father in the US

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo said she is hoping to meet her father while in the US for the 69th Miss Universe pageant.

The 24-year-old licensed physical therapist has not seen her biological father, an Indian national, for the past 20 years. She told ABS-CBN News, "This is my first time I'm gonna be outside of the country. Yes I'm so excited. It's been my dream to go to US because I really want to see my father."

Knowing his name and date of birth, Rabiya feels there is still hope and she is not giving up on the possibility of meeting him. She added, "I just want to know if he’s alive or not I'm not even sure if he has an idea that I won Miss Universe Philippines."

The Filipina beauty who hails from Iloilo was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 while representing her city during the national pageant held in October last year. She dedicated her victory to her mother who raised her as a single parent.

Rabiya is now preparing to win her country's 5th Miss Universe crown on May 16 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Photo: Rabiya Mateo / Instagram

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