Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo is not bothered by talks that she staged her accidental fall during her final walk at the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant on September 30, 2021.
Rabiya’s bashers said she intentionally tripped to make her exit even more dramatic and steal the thunder from the new queen she was about to crown.
Rabiya said during her recent PEP Exclusives interview, "I heard din na some people would say na, 'Sinadya niya iyan para pag-usapan.'
“Feeling ko naman, wala namang gustong madapa! Di ba, pabalik na?
"If gusto ko talagang pag-usapan, probably, madadapa ako noong papunta pa lang ako!"
Rabiya added her fall did not embarrass her, and, in fact, she found it funny.
She even appreciated that people actually made a meme out of it.
She said, “It happens po talaga and nobody wants it to happen, it was an accident.
“I am in that moment in which I can make a joke out of it. Sabi ko, it wasn’t like an embarrassing moment for me.
"I consider it as a beautiful moment kasi, at least, kahit nga naging meme tayo, I find it funny!
“Shine-share ko pa nga sa Instagram ko because ang tataba talaga ng utak ng Pilipino and it happens.
“Sometimes you just need to laugh, and, sabi ko, hindi ko na siya sineryoso kasi nag-enjoy din naman ako.
"It was the coronation night na ipa-pass ko iyong crown to a new queen. Sabi ko, ayoko masira lang dahil nadapa ako.”
And, indeed, people who mattered to Rabiya were impressed with how she handled her fall.
She recalled, “It was adrenaline rush. Sabi nga ni MJ Lastimosa, within three seconds, tatlo na iyong nakita niya—nadapa ako, tumayo ako, nag-wave ako sa kanila, and everybody was clapping after that!
“To be honest, iyong challenging part doon, I need to go out for an interview! Parang siguro I also told KC Montero na, ‘Did you see that? I just fell!’”
Rabiya passed the crown to Beatrice Luigi Gomez, who will fight for the Miss Universe crown on December 13 (Manila time) in Israel.