MAKATI CITY, Philippines—Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo has a new title. She is now also the national pageant organization’s “Ambassador for Education.”
“The Miss Universe Philippines Organization is excited and proud to announce our queens’ official titles,” a Dec. 4 post on the pageant’s official Facebook page said.
Aside from Rabiya, her runners-up have likewise been assigned new titles.
First runner-up Ysabella Ysmael, a professional ballerina, is now the “Ambassador for Arts and Culture, while second runner-up Michelle Gumabao, a former varsity volleyball player who crossed over to the semi-professional league, is the “Ambassador for Health and Fitness.”
Third runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, who once worked at the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office, is the “Ambassador for Tourism,’ while fourth runner-up Kimberly Hakenson, a bisexual woman, is “Ambassador for Gender Equality.”
“This group of intelligent and empowered ladies is more than ready to make an impact on causes and programs close to their hearts. The reign of phenomenal women has begun!” the organization continued.
“So proud of these phenomenal young women,” Miss Universe Philippines Creative Director Jonas Gaffud said in a post he made on Facebook.
In an online interview, he told the Inquirer that the assigned titles will allow the pageant’s winners “to lead in areas they are most passionate about.”
Gaffud added: “We will support them if they come up with specific and measurable projects in their chosen advocacies so it won’t just be lip service.”
