Chronically on-line Filipinos just lately popularized the phrase, “sobrang Latina!” (very Latina-like) to go with an individual’s seems both significantly or jokingly. When Dia Remulla Maté stood above all in Reina Hispanoamericana to reclaim the Philippine crown after eight years, she was known as “sobrang Latina!“
Dia made herstory on Monday morning, February 10 (Manila time), after defeating over 20 candidates and profitable the Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 crown in Bolivia. She grew to become the second Filipina to put on the coveted title after Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez’s feat in 2017, and is the most recent “Latina slayer.”
The time period is given by pageant followers to Filipina queens who’ve gained in pageants or pageant editions dominated by Latinas. Reina Hispanoamericana, a world pageant primarily based in Bolivia, solely accepts candidates from international locations with hispanic cultures and traditions.
After her victory, Dia stated she didn’t count on to win as a result of she was up in opposition to equally attractive and good ladies. Within the pageant world, Latinas are each feared and revered attributable to their magnificence — they’re tall and long-legged with engaging facial options.
“In fact, coming into all competitions, I need to hope for the most effective and never count on an excessive amount of as a result of I didn’t need to get my hopes up. And naturally, I used to be going into this competitors in opposition to all of those stunning ladies who’ve impacted lives of different individuals and are all deserving to win. So I’m simply so grateful and proud that I obtained the second crown for the Philippines,” the 22-year-old magnificence queen informed pageant portal Missossology in an interview.
It was not a simple struggle, however Dia shone the brightest that day.
Filipina within the land of Latinas
In her weeks-long journey, Dia confirmed that she was a complete package deal and had carried out her project. She gained the Finest Nationwide Costume (Mejor Traje Típico) award forward of the finals night time for her costume “Banaag,” designed by Ehrran Montoya. The look was impressed by the Philippines’ UNESCO-recognized Baroque church buildings.
This was a wise selection as a result of Dia and Montoya didn’t solely showcase the intricate designs of historical church buildings, but additionally promoted each the hispanic and Catholic sides of the Philippines.
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Earlier than her preliminary interview, Dia confirmed the judges Filipino hospitality by giving them world-famous Filipino dried mangoes and Kalesa collectible figurines. The selection of collectible figurines was fairly strategic too, as this gave one other nod to the nation’s Spanish roots.
Dia stood out additionally due to her singing abilities. Usually carried out by reigning queens, Dia discovered herself on middle stage, opening the swimsuit spherical on Monday, and showcasing her vocal prowess. This gave Filipino pageant followers a sign that Dia was an early favourite of the pageant’s organizers, Promociones Gloria.
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Within the swimsuit spherical, Dia confidently owned the stage, carrying a black and white one-piece, partnered with flowy arm capes. These colours allowed Dia’s bronze pores and skin to shine, however the cherry on prime was the stunner’s lengthy black hair that emphasised each her complexion and oriental options.
Dia’s selection of gold for her Rian Fernandez night robe was excellent because it as soon as once more highlighted her Filipina complexion. The low-cut bodice, together with vertical patterns created by the robe’s beading work gave the phantasm of peak, whereas her black straight hair didn’t take away the spotlight on the bodice. These little particulars enabled Dia to undertaking herself like a real reina.
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Dia is clever and eloquent, and although sounding a bit nervous at the beginning, it was her reply to the query, “What worth do you suppose is an important to create a good society, and why do you suppose that is essential?” that solidified her win.
“I believe the one most essential worth we must always have is kindness. In my expertise right here in Bolivia, Latinos have proven me a lot kindness and a lot love regardless that racially I’m not Latino. Essentially the most stunning factor I’ve seen is that regardless that we don’t communicate the identical language, we share the identical tradition, similar coronary heart, and similar religion in God. And I hope this reveals to all people that if we use kindness and we will present that we’re all the identical, we will create a greater world and a greater society for us all.”
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The making of a ‘Latina slayer’
Magnificence camps and followers are among the many elements why the Philippines has been on the prime of pageantry from the early 2010s as much as the current. Dia was a part of a camp, Aces and Queens, that educated her in all facets of her magnificence competitions: from correct strolling, to styling and make-up, and even in communication.
Aces and Queens, or A&Q for brief, has produced a number of the nation’s most profitable queens like Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss World 2013 Megan Younger, and Miss Worldwide 2016 Kylie Verzosa. It was additionally the identical camp that educated Teresita Ssen in 2017 and contributed to her victory.
Gerry Diaz, amongst A&Q’s head, shared in a publish that Dia and Teresita Ssen had met in late October, the place the latter shared ideas in regards to the pageant’s background and organizers, together with ideas and tips on the best way to seize the Latin-American viewers.
“Wynwyn was tremendous good and I bear in mind her taking a look at Dia and saying ‘You’re very fairly. And ang kinis ng face mo (And you’ve got very easy pores and skin),” Diaz shared. “We ended our lunch by telling Wynwyn that I hope that she’s going to rub off on Dia the attraction and [luck] that made her win. Appears like SHE DID.”
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Other than magnificence camps, candidates can even decide individuals to be a part of their crew or prepare them in a particular facet of competitors like within the pasarela (pageant stroll). Dia picked Miss Grand Worldwide 2024 1st runner-up CJ Opiaza as her pasarela coach and it clearly paid off. Other than being a magnificence queen, CJ can also be a sought-after runway coach.
The large enchancment was apparent in Dia’s stroll within the Reina Hispanoamericana finals night time, in comparison with her first attempt in Miss Universe Philippines 2024. Her actions created a robust and compelling stage presence.
Like her boyfriend JK Labajo, Dia has a music profession within the Philippines and has been a recording artist even earlier than she entered the world of pageantry. Her track, “Ganda Gandahan,” launched in November 2024 spoke about magnificence and confidence, whereas additionally shedding mild on the double requirements that ladies within the leisure business face.
Other than this, Dia additionally will get inspiration and braveness from her expertise at CRIBS Basis Integrated, a nonprofit group that cares for “deserted, uncared for, [and] surrendered infants and feminine minor survivors of sexual abuse.” There, she teaches music to younger women.
“For me, actually, it’s utilizing music as a device for psychological sickness as a result of as somebody who has skilled despair and nervousness, music has actually been one device that has actually helped me and I really like that I did win Reina Hispano-Americana as a result of Latinos love music…. Everybody enjoys it, that’s how individuals join and I need to present that you should use music to assist heal others and your self,” Dia stated within the Missossology interview.
In the identical interview, she was requested about her ideas on the continuing US immigration points that have an effect on individuals of colour, like Latinos. The granddaughter of Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla replied: “For me, I actually consider that every nation does have its personal proper to have nationwide coverage and border management. However these immigrants and these Latinos that reside in America which might be being deported are dropping their households and dropping the lives they’ve constructed. And I believe it’s a tragedy as a result of they haven’t solely introduced in cultural variety to this nation but additionally helped financial development.”
She added, “And I plead to America to deal with these immigrants with utmost dignity and respect as a result of that’s what they deserve.”
The brand new reina
In keeping with Teresita Ssen’s interview again in 2017, a Reina Hispanoamericana titleholder receives a money prize (the quantity was not specified), home equipment, robes, and different presents. However the grandest of all of them is a reproduction of the ruby crown, which prices round $7,000. The duplicate is made from rubies, diamonds, and silver. The unique crown, which is larger and costlier, stays with Promociones Gloria.
Dia would in all probability obtain the identical prizes that Teresita Ssen took dwelling eight years in the past. Her victory additionally bolstered the nation’s standing within the Latin-American pageant, which it joined solely in 2017.
In a span of eight years, the nation has already gained two crowns and has secured runner-up placements. Different profitable Filipinas are:
- Maria Katrina Llegado, Reina Hispanoamericana 2019 fifth runner-up
- Emanuelle Vera, Reina Hispanoamericana 2021 third runner-up
- Ingrid Sta. Maria, Reina Hispanoamericana 2022 prime 12 finisher
- Michelle Arceo, Reina Hispanoamericana 2023 2nd runner-up
Though not thought-about a serious pageant, Reina Hispanoamericana is revered due to the standard of winners it produces.
Take Teresita Ssen, for instance. After profitable, her profession grew blossomed and the phrase “reina” grew to become related together with her identify. Now she is vying for the Miss Universe Philippines crown for the second time, becoming a member of the league of different Reina Hispanoamericana titleholders who competed after profitable in Bolivia-based pageant.
As for Dia, her predominant duties now as the brand new reina is to advertise the wealthy and historic hispanic tradition, all whereas advocating for her dwelling nation, too.
“I’m so excited for what the group has in retailer for me. I do know that’s touring round totally different Latin American international locations, selling Hispanic tradition. And I get to advertise my Filipino tradition, which is sort of the identical as Latinos, and apart from that I’m going to proceed my music profession within the Philippines and hopefully unfold it to Latin America as nicely.” – Rappler.com
