Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City had just been crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2020 on October 25―but it hasn’t been exactly smooth sailing on her part.

Just after the pageant was aired, several controversies regarding her win have already surfaced across social media. The most talked-about reaction is that of Sandra Lemonon, who posted negative Instagram stories about the alleged “real queens that play fair and don’t cheat” statement.

While Sandra Lemonon has not straightforwardly addressed anything yet, several fans assumed that she was referring to the lady who won the crown, Rabiya Mateo.

In an interview on Sunday, the beauty queen emotionally got down to the issue, stating that people might have not expected her to win- that’s why people doubted her capability as a person and as a candidate.

The interview can be viewed here.

After being asked about her side on the accusations of bringing her own glam team, as well as being given the question beforehand for the final round of the pageant: “Yung mga nagsasabi na the question was given to me that’s why I answered that way, it wasn’t given po sa akin,” she stressed. “I did everything that I could because I want to make Iloilo City proud.”

She then ends her statement like a true queen by saying that despite the painful accusations, she has to be the bigger person. “Of course it was painful because there are things na you can settle by talking with each other… At the end of the day, this is a competition. And being the bigger person in the picture, I need to understand where they are coming from.”

Rabiya Mateo will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Universe 2020 pageant.