It’s Miss Universe season once again! Pageant fans around the world are hyping their bets, and an obvious favorite is Rabiya Mateo from the Philippines. Currently, Rabiya is the most followed Miss Universe 2020 candidate on Instagram, boasting 1.1 million fans who watch her every move and for sure, her every fashion statement.
That’s why we know you’d love it that we’ve gathered here all of the stylish outfits that Rabiya has worn in her Miss Universe journey… so far. She’s been showcasing amazing creations by 100 Filipino fashion designers, and being styled by Team Rain X Em, a Filipino styling company founded by famous celebrity stylists Rain Dagala and Em Millan.
For every outfit, there’s a story. Learn how each of the 100 participating Filipino fashion designers is telling a tale of inspiration through fashion. Let’s start, shall we?
Look 29: As Bright as the Sun
Rabiya Mateo’s most recent big fashion moment was with this yellow couture gown by Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Furne Amato. She wore this for the evening gown pageant preliminaries.
“Yellow is the color of celebration. The one sided neckline tulle gown is elegantly encrusted with Citrine Swarovski crystals on the bodice cascading to the hem and cape over alabaster Swarovski components, glass beads and paillettes,” the designer said about his design on Instagram. Furne Amato is a fashion powerhouse, dressing up Hollywood royalty like Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande, to name a few.
Amato added, “The dramatic and fitted silhouette adds interest and pizzazz on its own. The cape added royalty to the gown, and its beadwork was inspired by the radiance of the Philippine sun which symbolizes positivity and optimism. A hope for a new tomorrow, a world with endless beauty and happiness.”
Look 28: Summer Queen in Bikini
If there’s one thing tropical girls from the Philippines are good at, it is looking smashing in a bikini. Rabiya stunned in a bright yellow two-piece swimsuit and a flowy, long, sheer robe during her stage performance for the swimwear competition. 
Mateo was also wearing a pair of high heels designed by Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais, who was chosen by the organization to provide the official footwear for all candidates this year.
Look 27: Flying High with Filipino Pride
Rabiya’s national costume is the posthumous masterpiece of international avant garde designer Rocky Gathercole. The creation was inspired by the Philippine flag, wherein the blue part of the wings represented royalty, the red part characterized the strength of an independent woman, and the yellow stars meant “freedom in who you want to be”.
The outlandish couture was paired with mismatched high platforms by Filipino shoe designer Nereku. Rabiya’s stage performance embodied an elegant and independent modern Filipina who’s sure of herself, just like what the creation was poised to exude.
However, the 21-kilo wings of the natcos may have stirred a little controversy among die-hard pageant fans, as it resulted to Miss Universe Philippines Organization’s decision to not make Rabiya wear the sun-inspired headdress anymore. The headdress created by Bulacan-based jeweler and designer Manny Halasan, according to upset fans, would’ve completed the Philippine flag-inspired couture. The tiny frame of the beauty queen meant it would’ve been a challenge for her to carry everything and perform well, especially as Rabiya expressed that she was with cuts and blood on her stockings already as it was. A crying Rabiya went live on Instagram and shared her apology after the segment, while Halasan explained in his personal social media accounts that the incident should not stop Filipino fans from supporting the beauty queen.
Gathercole‘s campy aesthetic nonetheless has changed the game forever when it comes to the Philippines’ take on the national costume. He proved that he was a real visionary, someone who knew exactly when to break the traditional mold, how to push the limits when it comes to fashion, and how to have fun while doing so. In the own words of the late flamboyant designer, that’s #VeryGathercole.
Look 26: The Filipina Presence
Rabiya went for a chic look with this classic monochromatic blazer and trousers created by Ram Silva, an Iloilo-based designer. She also used the lucky charm earrings she borrowed from Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
The best part about this outfit was the strong message behind it. Designer Silva used hablon textile and pearls as well as beads and sequins that spelled out “Pinay” at the back of the blazer. The designer further explained the message of this creation on Instagram, “Pinay ka, hindi Pinay lang. Babae ka hindi, babae lang.” Through his creation, he is trying to inspire modern Filipinas to be courageous from deep within. The Philippine flag inspired the colors of the embellishments — blue for peace, truth & justice, red for patriotism and valor, and yellow for liberty.
Look 25: Looking like Royalty
Rabiya sizzled in this royal blue “naked gown” by Louis Pangilinan. 
The gown’s structure and arrangement evoke warm tropical beaches and colorful coral reefs in the Philippines. The gown’s beadwork and high slits make for a dramatic dress.
Look 24: The Cool Girl Look
Rabiya went retro with this denim-on-denim patch backless blazer and wide-legged trousers by Kristine Ordinario.
This cool girl outfit was inspired by the buildings & skyscrapers of the Metro Manila skyline. Kristine added that the structured yet feminine silhouette compliments Rabiya’s strength and ability to reach greater heights.
Look 023: The Modern Urduja
Rabiya is a vision in this bedazelled sheer gown with cut-out details by Glademire Echavarre.
The V-neck and intricate waist embellishment details of the dress, as well as the double print floral pattern, make the look an overall romantic and ultra-feminine ensemble. Glademire said that he took inspiration from Princess Urduja, the warrior queen of a matriarchal dynasty from Pangasinan, his beloved native province.
Look 022: As Delicate as a Flower
It’s always a good idea to rock monochromatic looks. Rabiya looked confident in this textured ensemble: a lace bustier top with silk trousers by Marc Rancy.
Th designer shared that the inspiration is the Philippines’ national flower: sampaguita. “For us to achieve purity, we needed to naturally go with white,” Marc said.
Marc said that the lace bustier top perfectly gives that feeling of daintiness while the cinched waistline added oomph and sass. Meanwhile, the silk pants has details on the bottom tucked in like the folds of sampaguita.
Look 21: The Luxe Look
Rabiya looked shimmering splendid in this embellished lilac dress created by Francis Libiran.
Francis shared that the inspiration is to express luxury in a design that is pleasing to the eyes, perfectly fit for regality. The luxe also symbolizes our culture enriched with valiant stories that shaped our history. The stories that have been told in the Manila Metropolitan Theater symbolize how we can’t put a price in the richness of our history.
Look 20: Pretty in Pink
This eye-catching hot pink suit and trousers by Vincent Van Bantiling came with unique cuts that showed the right amount of skin.
Vincent shared that the inspiration of the suit is for today’s Filipina who is never afraid of what’s ahead of her. The saccharine color relates to the monarch rosemallow (hibiscus radiatus), a native plant that attracts insects of all kinds. Like the said plant, our native queen attracts and gets everyone’s attention.
Look 19: Sea Princess
Rabiya rocked an architectural cocktail dress by Francis Libiran.
The intricate beadwork and unusual shape make this dress a true work of art. Francis said that the structured dress was derived from the beaches of Siargao, popular for its roughly 12-foot high waves. The Filipino architect and fashion designer shared that the dress symbolizes how dreams are created with progress and always returning with more strength.
Look 018: Beauty from Within
Rabiya wowed the crowd with these red coordinates with shoulder cutouts and thigh-high side slits by Claiza Bihasa Uy.
The designer said that the inspiration behind the cut-out dress is the beauty of Manila sunset that embodies Rabiya’s warmth and beauty. Claiza also said she was also inspired by red candles usually found in Catholic churches — a symbol of light in the darkest of times.
Look 17: A Delicate Filipina
Rabiya made a strong case for another modern version of the classic Barong Tagalog with this yellow embroidered sheer dress by Paolo Miguel Jaafar.
The young designer translated the elegant feel of the national costume into something more feminine and contemporary.
Look 16: Carrying a Gold Light
This Ilongga lass has been showing the beauty of local indigenous weaves on the global stage by wearing this modern two-piece couture: a hablon bra top and ruffled skirt with a bow by Ruffy Evangelista. This piece balances both sexiness and class because of its modern silhouette, color, and texture. 
As per Ruffy, the creation was born from the gold lights in the Iloilo River that can be seen at night. “The said ray of lights serve as a symbolic reminder to us Ilonggos that there will always be hope even in the darkest and most challenging times,” the designer said.
Look 15: Flamingo-Inspired
Rabiya looked ravishing in this wispy bubble-gum pink crop top and skirt with feather-like details. Designer Ushi Sato used French lace and ostrich feathers to bring to life this colorful and playful ensemble inspired by the flamingo and rose grape or the Philippine orchid. 
Ushi said, “Flamingo symbolizes many important things, and one of them is the importance of expressing emotions freely, balance, beauty, being open towards others and having an open heart. Meanwhile, the embroidery details came from the beautiful flowers of rose grape (aka Philipines Orchid), a small evergreen shrub native in the country.”
Look 14: A Little Risque
Going for yet another sophisticated yet sexy look, Rabiya stunned in this champagne cowl-neck open-back slip dress by Kerby Zata. The floor-length hemline, slits, and folded drapes gave Rabiya an elevated sultry look for the pageant.
Kerby shared that the inspiration behind the dress was the Philippine gold. “I wanted to capture the fluidity and how malleable gold is to accentuate the body and the curves Rabiya worked hard for. I wanted her to shine by executing it in a cool silhouette in gold fabric that looks cool and potentially beige-like to highlight her skin.”
Look 13: A Girl with a Fight
Rabiya showed her playful side with this white textured long-sleeved crop top and skirt by Yeye Pantaleon. The sweet-faced beauty queen showed that she has the body and pizzazz to pull off a carefree, midriff-baring outfit like this.
Yeye said that the inspiration behind the dress is the fire burning inside the angelic-faced Ilongga. “The inspiration was the sweet, angelic face of Queen Rabiya, her seeming naïveté and innocence. But behind those eyes, I sense the burning fire inside her. So I incorporated a sweet yet sultry, sexy but carefree dress for her.”
Look 12: Orange You Gorgeous?
By now, it is established that Rabiya is not afraid to make bold statements with her looks. With this orange dress with billowy sleeves and draped skirt by Martin Bautista, she showed that orange is the new black and it is fit for the daring queen that she is.
Martin shared that this look was created to celebrate a woman’s individuality.
Look 11: The Morena Queen
Rabiya made another strong fashion statement when she donned an orange bodycon by Neil Patrick Jimlani. The dress hugged Rabiya’s curves and emphasized her golden skin tone.
Neil enthused, “A woman is never defined by the dress that she wears; she is defined by purpose she holds, effortlessly emphasized by how she carries herself.”
Look 10: Promoting Filipino Materials
This sequined dress by Lenie Canonaso came with traditional textile sleeves. The floor-length gown incorporated Iloilo’s hablon textile, another proudly Filipino indigenous material. While the striking top-to-bottom blue details stood out beautifully against the pale gold sequins of the dress.
On her creation, Lenie said, “Striking the balance between modern and traditional fashion is quite challenging but a successful integration of innovation and artistry will lend a sense of identity, class, and ingenuity.”
Look 9: Sunny From Within
This queen knew how to turn this yellow ruched dress with side drapes by Martin Bautista into a source of sunny smiles. Ruching is a refreshing detail that is flattering to any body type when it has different patterns all over the dress. In this particular dress, there was side ruching on the top with a full ruching at the bottom. The side drapes added another style dimension to the dress.
“A dress should be like an armor to a woman; she needs to feel protected, safe, and strong,” Bautista said.
Look 8: Royal Empress
Rabiya showed that she is ready for the battle with this blue asymmetrical structured origami dress by Ushi Sato, paired with high-heeled gladiator heels by Doreen Odvina.
Look 7: Looking Like a Doll
Nono Palmos played around with a striking color in his custom fuschia pink belted bustier dress for Rabiya. This color gave this silhouette an updated and youthful look, which is perfect for the fresh-faced Ilongga beauty.
“Pink has to be worn with a little playfulness and a splash of youthful energy,” said Nono. We couldn’t agree more.
Look 6: A Classic Beauty
The lace dress with a draped belt looked by Mikee Andrei, paired with glittered heels from Erin, delivered a timeless, dreamy look on Rabiya.
On the design inspiration, Mikee said, “To be phenomenal is to know that no ensemble can fully define one’s strength or capability – it is her conviction in taking new strides and that she is able to empower that matters.”
Look 5: Fiery Hot
For her interview with Michael John Regalado in Fort Lauderdale, Rabiya wore a red draped tube top with a train-like detail by Zyrill Jacinto, and a pair of silk trousers by Franko Barrio. She looked comfortable in the light and airy ensemble while she talked about her Miss Universe journey during the interview. Plus, the deep red shade looked perfect against Rabiya’s morena skin.
“Modern women and versatile clothing are connected to one another because they represent adaptability and their natural skill to adjust with all the changes in the world,” Zyrill said.
“A woman — a phenomenal woman at that — must stand tall and take sides,” Franko shared.
Look 4: Effortless Sophistication
Marc Rancy, a Paris-educated couturier, went all out with on this dramatic draped royal blue gown for Rabiya. The corset details gave the high low dress more structure, which accentuated Rabiya’s slim waist. 
“A new generation queen is a woman who breaks barriers of convention, one who isn’t afraid to rise to the challenges not only through her words but with concrete actions,” Marc said when interviewed about the inspiration behind the piece.
Look 3: A Love for Flair
There is something about a feminine piece that makes a woman glow. Rabiya is as dainty as a spring flower in this pastel pink dress with sheer puffed sleeves created by Veejay Floresca. This customized creation has a modest neckline that works well with the baby pink color that exude femininity at all angles.
“Gone are the days when pastel pink hues are for toddlers. When done right, it is the color that exudes femininity and beauty,” Veejay said.
Completing the look were gorgeous floral earrings by accessory designer Christopher Munar and a hand-embroidered and hand-beaded bag from Vesti.
Look 2: Emerald Confidence
This modern terno in emerald color by Marlon Tuazon was easily our favorite! The powersuit had eye-catching details, as each of the butterfly sleeve boasted of pearls and seashells trimmings. The back detail showed a little skin, while the silhouette highlighted the waist of Rabiya.
Marlon Tuazon shared his inspiration: “A Pinay of any age or shape is sexy when she has a sense of purpose and when she knows where she derives her advocacy. If she can converse with sense and conviction about relevant issues here and abroad, that is sexy.”
Look 1: Feminized Barong Tagalog
What better way to start your Miss Universe journey other than wearing a glam look that expresses your country’s identity? Rabiya wore a cropped Barong Tagalog by Chino Christopherson, and matched it with a pair of high-waisted trousers by Marc Rancy. Traditionally, the Barong Tagalog is usually worn by Filipino men, but Chino put a feminine twist into it and Rabiya wore it with such grace and confidence.
“We want to achieve a look that is chic without losing the cultural integrity of traditional barong,” Marc Rancy said.
“A woman who can pull off barong, exudes confidence,” Chino Christopherson added.
Filipino fashion designers are truly all out when it comes to creativity, excellence and support for the Philippine representative at the Miss Universe 2020. In our book, Rabiya is such a winning queen already, as she’s showing the world the brilliance of Filipino fashion with her every outfit.
Mateo will be competing for the Miss Universe 2020 crown during the finals night on May 16 (May 17, 8 am, Manila time). Philippine viewers can watch the preliminary competition live on the Lazada app. The finals night will be aired live on the A2Z Channel and also streamed on Lazada.