Dia Mate, an aspiring beauty queen, has made a swift return to the pageant stage just weeks after her participation in the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant.
As the representative for Cavite, Dia competed in the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 event, where Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan was crowned the winner during the coronation night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, on May 22, 2024.
Read: Chelsea Manalo wins Miss Universe Philippines 2024
Dia is representing Cavite again, but this time, in the Miss World Philippines 2024 pageant.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) caught up with Dia Mate during the Miss World Philippines 2024 press presentation and sashing ceremony held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at SEDA Manila Bay in Parañaque City.
Dia expressed her excitement about the opportunity to showcase her potential as a beauty queen.
She said, "Well, I'm actually feeling great and amazing, and I feel so fulfilled being here on another pageant stage.
"And for me, it was an automatic decision to join.
"Whether I be super tired or mentally drained, pageantry is now one of my biggest passions, and I want to continue doing it no matter what."
Read: JK Labajo on girlfriend Dia Mate: “Ganda ng babaeng to”
DIA MATE tHANKFUL FOR HER STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM
Dia feels immensely grateful for the strong support system surrounding her in this new pageant journey.
Among her biggest supporters is her boyfriend, musician, and High Street actor JK Labajo.
Dia said, "He's always been supportive in everything that I do, and he always tells me how proud he is of me."
Dia revealed that JK actively helps with her pageant preparations, even going so far as to pose random questions to her for potential Q&A practice.
She said, "He's always just been my sidekick, my partner, and he is just there for whatever I need, whether that be a shoulder to cry on, someone to cheer me on, or someone to even give me random Q&A advice or practice."
While some people might surprised by JK's supportive nature, Dia is delighted to see this side of him. She shared,
"I've been with him for a while now, and he truly shows who he is to me. And he's so goofy, and he's so fun.
"He's not the intimidating JK that everyone thinks he is. So, it wasn't surprising, but I just truly love that side of him."
DIA MATE: BEAUTY WITH A PURPOSE
One of the primary motivations for Dia to join the Miss World Philippines pageant is its Beauty With A Purpose advocacy, which allows her to raise awareness about mental illness.
She said, "Well, I've always wanted to join Miss World because of its tagline, Beauty with a Purpose. It's such a holistic pageant.
"I feel like this is really the pageant for me. And after my previous pageant, I felt that I was still very physically and mentally prepared.
"So, why not better than now, right? So, that's why I wanted to join.
When asked what her advocacy is, she answered, "I wanted to share my advocacy of music therapy as healing for mental illness."
Dia has been actively involved with Cribs Foundation Inc., where she helps provide music therapy for neglected children and sexually abused girls aged 7 to 17 years old.
Sharing her experience, she said, "I am a musician. I write my own songs, and I really, truly found my talent and what I was good at when I was at my lowest, which is when I was experiencing mental illness.
"And with that, I wanted to teach other people how music can not just be a tool for entertainment, but a tool for therapy as well.
"So, right now, I'm currently partnering with Cribs Foundation, Inc., which is a foundation that holds neglected children and also sexually abused girls from 7 to 17 years old.
"And there, I teach them music, and I can see how it really, truly helps them and how their eyes open up with light and joy.
"And it's something that really touched my heart, and it's something that I want to share with the world."
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