Fil-Am beauty queen advances to finals in Miss Universe Jamaica
Photo from matea.mahal/Instagram
Filipino American beauty queen Matea Mahal Smith is proving that her pageant journey knows no borders and it’s far from over. From competing under the Philippine sash to now vying for a crown in the Caribbean, Smith continues to blaze her own trail in the pageant world.
This time, the 21-year-old Fil-Am is one of the finalists in Miss Universe Jamaica, earning praise from fellow beauty queens and pageant fans alike.
On Instagram, Smith announced her new journey with excitement: “Got the golden ticket. I am so honored to be a Miss Universe Jamaica Finalist!! This is just the beginning and I can’t wait for this upcoming journey.”
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Shortly after, she shared a photo showing her in a pink dress from the first day of competition with the caption, “Day 1 with so much more to come.”
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Fellow Miss Universe Philippines 2024 contestant Chelsea Manalo, who eventually won the national crown and now holds the title of Miss Universe Asia, left a heart emoji in support of Smith.
Another batchmate from the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 roster, Fil-Am beauty Jet Hammond – now preparing for Miss Utah USA – wrote, “Goodluckkkkk my loveeee.”
Before this new chapter in Jamaica, Smith had already made waves in the US pageant scene. She reached the Top 16 in Miss Florida USA 2024, months after her Miss Universe Philippines 2024 stint, and made history as the first winner of Filipino and African American descent in the decade-long history of Miss Filipina International, a Los Angeles-based pageant.
Outside the pageant stage, Smith is a magna cum laude pre-medicine graduate of the University of Florida and a dedicated athlete. She captains both her university’s track-and-field and swim teams – an extraordinary feat considering she was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that causes chronic joint pain.
