Miss Universe PH 2024 candidate lands in Miss Florida USA top 16
Matea Mahal Smith / Photo from matea.mahal/Instagram
“Not quite finished,” she wrote, and Filipino American beauty queen Matea Mahal Smith lived by that mantra as she competed once again in another Miss Universe system.
The first winner of Filipino and African American descent in the decade-long history of the LA-based pageant Miss Filipina International, Smith secured a top 16 finish during the Miss Florida USA pageant finals on Sunday.
This achievement came just two months after her impressive stint in Miss Universe Philippines, where she represented the Filipino community of Florida.
The Fil-Am beauty shared a video of her swimsuit and gown performances from the state-wide pageant, showcasing her grace and poise on Instagram. She wore a black gown designed by renowned Filipino designer Francis Libiran.
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Reflecting on her experience, Matea Mahal Smith expressed gratitude, saying, “Top 16 finish at Miss Florida USA. Truly a fantastic weekend, and I couldn’t have done it without my village of coaches and supporters.”
Smith went on to thank the people who supported her throughout the competition. She acknowledged her “pasarela” coaches Jan Quijano, the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 runner-up CJ Opiaza, Miss World Philippines candidate Riana Agatha Pangindian and Belle Jagonase.
She also expressed appreciation for her interview coaches, highlighting their invaluable guidance during her panel interview, which she described, “Every session was so valuable and helped reassure me that I was ready!”
The 21-year-old pre-medicine student at the University of Florida is not only a beauty queen but also an athlete. As the captain of her school’s track-and-field and swim teams, Smith’s achievements are even more inspiring considering she was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that causes her pain.
Smith’s success is part of a broader trend of Filipino beauty queens excelling in pageants. Fellow Fil-Am queen Jet Hammond also finished in the top 16 in Miss California USA, while Fil-Brit Christina Dela Cruz Chalk was hailed as Miss Universe Great Britain 2024.
Meanwhile, former MUPH semi-finalist and Hawai’i’s Bianca Tapia is leading the charge in Miss World Philippines 2024, where she was one of the top three finalists for the pageant’s head-to-head challenge and a finalist for the pageant’s “Beauty with a Purpose” competition.
Peyton Lewis is the new Miss Florida USA.
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