Dia Mate feels ‘fulfilled, empowered’ after bagging 2025 Reina Hispanoamericana crown
Newly crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 Dia Mate felt “incredibly fulfilled” and “empowered” after bagging the international beauty pageant title. She bested 24 other candidates from around the globe during the grand coronation night held recently in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
“Carrying the warmth and spirit of the Filipino people is truly a remarkable achievement. It’s a moment to celebrate the strength, resilience, and beauty of the Filipino spirit on an international stage,” she told The STAR in an exclusive interview.
During the crowning moment, she was already praying and hoping that her name would be called as the grand winner.
“It was a whirlwind of emotions! I was praying the entire time, hoping for that second crown for the Philippines. When Filipinas was called, it was like everything stopped. There was a wave of excitement, disbelief, and pure joy that washed over me. It was a moment I’ll never forget,” she recalled.
Dia is the second Filipina beauty queen to win the title after Winwyn Marquez, who bagged the crown in 2017.
For Dia, the crown “is a testament to the incredible support I’ve received throughout my journey.”
She expressed her gratitude to the people who have been with her in her pageant journey. “My family, especially my parents, and my core team — Yaj, Michole, Randel and Krishna — have been my unwavering pillars of strength. Their dedication and belief in me went above and beyond, and I’m eternally grateful for their love and support,” she said.
The singer-songwriter also thanked ALV and ALV Pageant Circle, beauty camp Aces & Queens, and her fans. “Thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement. Your belief in me has been a source of inspiration and motivation throughout this journey,” she expressed.
Dia also earned the Best National Costume award and was a Top 5 Finalist for the side contest, Miss Turismo.
Sofia Fernandez from Venezuela was named Virreina Hispanoamericana, while Sharon Gamarra from Colombia was the first runner-up.
Dia was asked during the question-and-answer segment, “What values do you think are the most important to our society, and why do you think this is important?”
“I think the one, most important value we should have is kindness. And my experience here in Bolivia, Latinos have shown me so much kindness and so much love even though racially, I am not Latina,” she replied.
“And the most beautiful thing I’ve noticed is that even though we don’t speak the same language, we share the same culture, same heart and same faith in God. And I hope this shows everybody that if we use kindness, we can show that we are all the same. We can create a better world and better society for us all. Muchas gracias.”
Dia’s boyfriend, singer and actor Juan Karlos, penned a congratulatory message along with photos of them together.
“You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are now, and it fills my heart with warmth and joy to witness your growth and see how far you’ve come. You deserve all the good things life has to offer because you never gave up! You’ve faced so many challenges, endured countless sleepless nights, and dedicated endless hours to your training — all with unwavering determination,” Juan Karlos wrote on Instagram.
“You’ve carried our flag with such grace and elegance, and we are all so proud to have you represent our country on the international stage, inspiring the younger generation and being the voice for all the causes you stand up for. This is just the beginning!” he added.
“To my sweet, kind, loving, and beautiful soul — inside and out — my baby girl, my baba, my queen: I love you more than words can express. Te amo mucho, mi amor.”
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