Beauty queen-singer Dia Mate has arrived in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, to proudly represent the Philippines at the Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 pageant.
Ahead of the competition, a send-off party was held in her honor on January 15, 2025, at La Noire Boutique Club in New World Hotel Makati.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Dia admitted to feeling a mix of emotions, especially nervousness, now that the moment she’s been waiting for has finally arrived.
"I mean, of course, who wouldn't be scared and like afraid?
"Because it's like you're competing against especially Latinas.
"This is a Latina-based pageant, so I'm stepping into their home-based court, home court. I'm at a disadvantage.
"Of course, us Filipinos, we're super palaban, we're very brave, we're warriors.
"So, either way, I'm going to compete and be the best Reina I can be for the Philippines."
DIA MATE: REPLICATING WINWYN MARQUEZ'S WIN
Dia is determined to bring home the Philippines' second Reina Hispanoamericana crown, following Winwyn Marquez's historic 2017 victory—the country's triumphant debut in the prestigious Latin-based pageant.
Before leaving for Bolivia, Dia was able to meet Winwyn.
The meeting was arranged by her mentor, Gerry Diaz, who had also guided Winwyn during her Reina Hispanoamericana journey.
Recalling the encounter, Dia said, "It was a very last minute. Tito Gerry, thankfully, he texted me one morning and said, 'Dia, Are you free?'
"And I was like, 'Hi Tito Jerry, how come?'
"And he said, 'Because I'm having lunch right now with Winwyn, are you in the area? It's just in the Rockwell area, let me know if you can make it.'
"So I immediately said yes because I knew that I wanted to meet Winwyn.
"She's the first Filipina who went to Reina, and the first Filipina to win. So can you imagine how amazing that is?
"So I went to meet with her and she was so, so nice. She answered any question that I have. She told me about her whole journey."
When asked about Winwyn's advice, Dia said she was told to stay focused on what truly matters and ignore all the distractions.
In her words, "The most important thing Winwyn told me was to not be intimidated by the Latinas and to really focus on myself and my own journey...
"Because once you get lost in the noise of, you know, pageant media, lots of fans, and just people in general, you really doubt yourself.
"And it's going to affect your performance and how you present yourself to the world, essentially, and to the Hispanic American world.
"So, that's what I'm keeping inside for this journey... it's to make sure that I'm focusing on myself, blocking out all the noise, and performing the best I can."
DIA MATE's PREPARATIONS FOR REINA HISPANOAMERICANA 2025
How was her preparations?
"So I had a lot of time to prepare, which was amazing. I was able to diet, work out, get healthy mentally and physically.
"And other than that, most importantly, learning Spanish for the competition. So when it's not a need, it's better that I get to learn Spanish, which I was able to do naman. Just enough to get me by.
"And, of course, pasarela training and Q&A training."
Dia admitted that the Spanish classes were the toughest part of her training, "Kasi parang sanay na sanay na ako sa Pasarela, sa Q&A, especially in English. kasi English really is my forte.
"But when it comes to Spanish, it is a foreign language. But I had so much fun learning it and learning all these new vocabularies.
"And kind of starting to understand when people speak Spanish. It's nice to have a new skill."
For the national costume segment of the competition, Dia will be wearing an Ehrran Montoya creation.
What is the theme of her national costume?
Dia answered, "It's a value that the Philippines and the Hispanic community share."
But kept the rest of the details under wraps.
"Gowns, I want to keep a secret, secret pa. I also have a carnival costume. I'm just super excited for everything."
She did not forget to credit her stylist, Randell Giel, along with her glam team, Yaj Labeo and Michole Mananquil, who have been in charge of her pageant looks.
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