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“I want all the underrepresented girls in the Philippines and the world to see what they can be.”
Matea Mahal Smith
Miss Filipina International 2023
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Candidate
Matea Mahal Smith is the newly crowned Miss Filipina International 2023. She will be competing at Miss Universe Philippines this year representing the Filipino community in Florida.
Matea is 21 years old and is a proud Afro-Filipina who grew up in a multicultural household. She is a Junior at the University of Florida on a full academic scholarship with a major in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience on a pre-med track. Following her bachelor’s degree, she plans to apply to medical school to pursue her dream as a doctor.
Matea has visited the Philippines several times since age two and has seen different parts of the island.
Matea was a top, star track and field and swim athlete throughout her youth and high school years. She was a captain for both sports for two years. A congenital hip disorder ended her athletic career. Matea has been modeling since age 2 appearing in several magazines, commercials, and Music Videos. Her latest work was with Jag PH working alongside Ivana Alawi. She also walked at Miami Swimsuit Fashion Week in July 2023.
Matea is an ambassador for Maya’s Hope, an organization that helps impoverished children and children with disabilities. She did volunteer work for the children of Maya’s Hope over the last two years in Manila, Philippines. She hopes to incorporate mental health resources and education for youth as an additional layer of her work within the organization someday. She was also an online volunteer for the United Nations, where she worked to outline buildings and roads on a map for rural Tanzania to prevent young girls from female genital mutilation.
Matea has been interviewed by CNN Philippines Award Winning Senior News Anchor, Mr. Rico Hizon of The Final word, Ms. Janet Nepales – Award Winning Journalist and Author; and Ms. Tonie Pua of Stronger Together – Podcast & Online Host, GMA Network
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She has two older brothers. She loves learning about different countries and their culture. She’s been to 10 countries and hopes to visit Greece soon. Matea believes in being true to herself and hopes to help girls/women worldwide get comfortable being “perfectly imperfect.”
“My mom has taught me to embrace my cultural heritage, my uniqueness and to be a proud Afro-Filipina.”
Matea Mahal Smith
Miss Filipina International 2023
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Candidate
