Even Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo isn’t immune to beauty blunders.
The 28-year-old beauty queen recounted a mistake in an exclusive PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) interview on August 29, 2025, at SM Beauty Con 2025, powered by Watsons, SM Beauty, and LOOK At Me.
Rabiya confessed that she once accidentally burned her hair with a flat iron.
"Nag-fry up siya tapos nagputol-putol siya," she told PEP after her segment with Hairfix at the event held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City,
After singeing her bangs, Rabiya was left with little wisps of hair sticking out.
Her quick fix? She replied, “Hair pin na lang. That’s the only answer.”
The Kapuso beauty queen-actress learned from the mishap and advises: "Wag mong i-overdo. Wag mong plantsahin talaga masyado yung bangs mo kasi nangyari sa akin na naputol yung bangs ko.
"Nasunog siya. So wag na wag niyo yun gagawin!"
Another tip from her: prep your hair before exposing it to heat.
Like skin-care before make-up, Rabia said hair needs the right products to avoid extreme damage.
"Super mabilis na hack, preparation. You need to prep your hair. Use the right products pala.
"And then after that, right products din to set it para magla-last siya for a very long time."
With these hairstyle hacks, her go-to look now takes less time to achieve.
"Siguro around fifteen minutes, kaya ko na siyang tapusin," Rabiya proudly shared.
"But of course nung nag-uumpisa ako, I would give like thirty good minutes for me to finish my go-to hair, which is ganito din, yung hati sa gitna na may curls."
RABIYA MATEO: CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CROWNING GLORY
Meanwhile, Rabiya delivered a heartfelt message for anyone who feels insecure about their hair—whether it’s curly, wavy, or pin-straight.
She encouraged people to stop comparing themselves and start embracing their natural texture as part of their identity.
Rabiya said: "Yung advice ko siguro is always embrace your identity.
"Kasi, for example, if you have a curly hair, that's who you are. But we make it effortless, beautiful."
Rabiya suggested small steps: learn styles that flatter your texture, use products that enhance—not mask—your hair, and focus on healthy care over chasing trends.
She added that acceptance changes everything.
Once a person stops hiding and starts celebrating her hair, confidence follows naturally, and that glow makes any style shine.
In her words: "Yung confidence kasi it comes with acknowledgment.
"So you have to acknowledge that nothing is perfect and not everybody would like you or you're not gonna be the standard of beauty for everybody.
"And that's completely fine.
"However, dapat malaman mo din sa sarili mo na that regardless of your imperfections, you are beautiful, you are wonderful, and you are amazing. It comes from within."
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