PH's Dia Maté wins Best in National Costume in Reina Hispanoamericana 2025
Dia Mate, the country's representative for Reina Hispanoamericana 2025, won the Best in National Costume Award (Mejor Traje Tipico).
"¡Felicidades, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2024, Dia Maté, for winning Best National Costume (Mejor Traje Típico) at Reina Hispanoamericana 2025!," ALV Pageant Circle wrote in a social media post.
It added, "This victory is a testament to the world-class creativity and craftsmanship of the Filipino people!"
The 22-year-old singer-songwriter and music producer paraded fashion designer Ehrran Montoya's costume, dubbed "Banaag. " It was made with over 150,000 crystals to mimic "vibrant stained glass windows," inspired by the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.
The ensemble also featured a gold Mindanao Okkir pattern, which, according to Montoya, symbolizes indigenous artistry.
Moreover, its salacot headpiece adds an "agricultural touch" to the costume, "while feather pen and lamp accessories celebrate the muses of Filipino poetry."
The dress's train also highlighted the "intricate craftsmanship of rattan furniture," a tribute to Filipino artistry.
"This EHRRAN MONTOYA Philippine National costume is a stunning tribute to the nation's rich cultural legacy," Montoya said.
Beauty pageant as an advocacy platform
In a previous interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Dia shared how she views pageantry as a platform to share one's advocacies and interests.
"It's where you can present yourself to the whole Philippines and, basically, the whole world," she said. "We're a sash factor country. All the countries look up to us in bringing the best representatives out onto the international stage."
She wants to use the beauty pageant as a platform to share the power of music therapy.
"As a musician, it's important to have that creative outlet," she said, adding that when the situation is stressful or depressing, she finds it therapeutic to write songs, putting her thoughts on a piece of paper or humming a melody aligned with her feelings at the moment.
"It helps you to process your emotions and let them out in a safe and non-harmful way. You need that outlet," she said.
In case you didn't know, Dia is also making waves in the music industry with her latest single, Ganda-Gandahan.
Dia is also a frequent visitor of CRIBS Foundation Inc., an Antipolo-based orphanage and rehabilitation center for abandoned babies and abused teenage girls since she was young. These days, she's giving singing, piano, and guitar lessons to the girls.
The Reina Hispanoamericana's coronation night is scheduled for Feb. 10 (Manila time) in Bolivia, where Maricielo Gamarra of Peru will crown her successor.
Dia is aiming to clinch the second crown for the country following the win of Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez in 2017.