Personal na humingi ng paumanhin si Rabiya Mateo sa mga kapwa nito kandidata sa Miss Universe 2020 pageant na sina Amanda Obdam ng Thailand at Nova Stevens ng Canada.
Sina Amanda at Nova ang ilan sa mga kandidatang naging puntirya ng hateful comments mula sa ilang Pinoy pageant fans.
Kagabi, May 4, 2021, ibinahagi ni Nova ang ilan sa comments na nakuha nito sa kanyang Instagram account at ang pagkadismaya niya sa mga toxic pageant fans.
Sa isang press conference via Zoom ngayong Miyerkules ng umaga, May 5, tinanong ni Armin Adina ng Philippine Daily Inquirer si Rabiya tungkol sa reaction nito sa fans na namba-bash ng ibang kandidata sa Miss Universe 2020.
Ikinalulungkot daw ni Rabiya na ganito ang kasalukuyang nangyayari sa pageant community.
Aniya, "You know what, it makes me really sad.
"I saw the post of Nova earlier today and I really feel sorry [for] her because nobody deserves to be in that position.
"I've been bashed, you know. And there was a moment that a lot of people would tell me, 'That's normal, you're a beauty queen.'
"But I've seen how... it affected not just me but also other candidates. We have a WhatsApp group and we would talk about it.
"Even Miss Chile would be very much open about the frustration that she's getting from reading her social media."
Ayon kay Rabiya, gumawa na siya ng hakbang at humingi ng tulong sa kanyang solid supporters upang mapigilan ang ganitong toxic behavior ng ilang fans.
"I would always... from time to time, I would ask a general meeting with my solid support group and I would tell them, 'Once you see somebody getting bashed, you report that account, you correct them.'
"And it doesn't feel good, it doesn't feel nice [to be bashed]. And I need to do something to stop it."
RABIYA SAYS SORRY TO AMANDA, NOVA
Sabi pa ni Rabiya, personal din siyang nagpadala ng mensahe kina Amanda at Nova upang humingi ng tawad dahil sa negative comments at pamba-bash na natanggap ng mga ito mula sa ilang Pinoy pageant fans.
"And actually, I talked to several girls. I actually personally sent messages to Amanda, to Nova saying sorry.
"Because these hate speeches that we see online, this is not a reflection of who we are as Filipinos.
"I can say that we do love pageants, and we support girls.
"And with Miss Universe, the goal is to celebrate the differences and to be with the girls and the cause that they stand for."
Bukod dito, plano rin ni Rabiya na gumawa ng anti-bullying campaign video.
"That's why this is a very emotional topic. And I would always campaign, as a person, I do not tolerate bullying in all forms and in always.
"That's why I'm actually planning to make a video, me and the organization is planning to make a video to make an appeal to the public to stop being rude. Because it costs nothing to be kind."
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Si Rabiya ay kabilang sa 74 candidates ng Miss Universe 2020 pageant.
Ipapasa ni Zozibini Tunzi ng South Africa ang Miss Universe title sa kanyang successor sa grand coronation night na gaganapin sa May 16, 2021 (May 17 sa Pilipinas), sa Seminole Hard Rock & Casino sa Hollywood, Florida.
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