The statement “queens support their fellow queens,” have not just been uttered, but it was proven and lived by as Miss Davao City, Alaiza Malinao, stood with Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo amidst the controversies regarding her win.

In her Instagram stories on Sunday, Miss Davao went on and congratulated Mateo, starting it by saying that she is “so deserving” to bag the crown.

She also posted a video with Rabiya as she compliments her “small, beautiful face” and also gets into a point when she posts another clip of them together, with the text, “Siya lang po nagme-makeup sa sarili niya.”

Rabiya Mateo has been accused of bringing her own glam team during the competition.

She ends the series of posts by defending Rabiya Mateo: “MASIPAG si dzai. She worked hard! She’s fair! She did not cheat. She is a deserving winner!”

At the start of the competition, Alaiza Malinao has been a fan favorite, and was expected by several pageant supporters to win the crown. Rabiya Mateo, on the other hand, had just admitted on an interview that she was not a frontrunner.

Having said, it is refreshing to witness women lifting each other up.