The Philippines has once again made its mark on the international pageant stage. On February 9 (Bolivia time), Caviteña beauty queen Dia Maté triumphed over 24 contestants during the Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 coronation night in Bolivia, securing the country’s second crown in the competition’s history.
LOOK: Dia Maté Is Crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2025
During the finale, Dia graced the stage in a golden jewel-encrusted gown by Rian Fernandez as she went head-to-head with Colombia’s Sharon Gamarra in the final moments. With grace and confidence, Dia was ultimately announced as the winner, marking a triumphant finish to her year-long pageantry journey.
Suffice it to say, Dia was a standout candidate from start to finish. Before claiming the crown, Dia impressed judges with her National Costume designed by Ehrran Montoya—a dazzling, diamond-embellished ensemble intended to capture the Philippines’ rich and diverse heritage. The show-stopping piece earned her the Best in National Costume award, setting the tone for her eventual victory.
But it was Dia’s eloquence in the final Q&A that ultimately sealed her fate. When asked, “What value do you think is the most important to our society, and why do you think this is important?” the 23-year-old delivered a poignant message on fostering unity amid cultural differences.
“I think the one most important value that we should have is kindness. And my experience here in Bolivia is that you have shown me so much kindness and so much love even though racially I am not Latina. And the most beautiful thing I’ve noticed is that even though we don’t speak the same language, we share the same culture, same heart, and same faith in God.”
She then concluded: “And I hope this shows to everybody that if we use kindness, that we are all the same, then we can create a better world and a better society for us all.”
Ahead, get to know more about our 2025 Reina Hispanoamericana queen. From her flourishing music career to her mental health advocacy, here's everything you need to know about Deanna Marie Remulla-Maté or Dia Maté.
10 Things to Know About Dia Mate, the 2025 Reina Hispanoamericana Winner
1. Dia is a Virgo.
Currently 23 years old, Dia was born on September 18, 2001.
2. Dia is from Cavite.
Dia comes from the influential Remulla family of Cavite, a prominent political clan in the province. In a past interview with Philstar.com, Dia shared that growing up surrounded by public servants has inspired her to effect "positive change" in her own ways. "They're the ones who taught me about charity work and serving my community," she shared.
3. Dia studies Communications Technology at Ateneo de Manila University.
Though she received offers from prestigious institutions abroad—such as the University of Southern California and King’s College London—Dia chose to study in the Philippines to focus on building a music career. In 2021, Dia entered Ateneo de Manila University to pursue a degree in Communications Technology.
4. Dia is a musician.
Signed under Island Records Philippines, Dia is the singer-songwriter behind tracks like Ikaw Ang Pinili Ko, Fantasy, and the TikTok-viral Ganda Gandahan. Over the last three years, she's worked with artists like Zack Tabuldo, Fern, and Blaster Silonga. She currently has 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
5. Dia has competed in three major pageants in less than a year.
Dia first staked her claim at a beauty pageant crown in April 2024, when she represented Cavite in the Miss Universe Philippines competition. Although she didn’t clinch a podium finish, she quickly redirected her efforts towards her bid for the Miss World Philippines crown, where she was eventually named as the country's representative for the Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 pageant.
6. Dia was once a victim of bullying.
At 13, Dia faced bullying, a difficult period that led to lingering insecurities and mental health challenges, which she continues to address to this day.
7. Dia is a mental health advocate.
Dia has been outspoken about mental health throughout her pageant career. She supports the cause by visiting CRIBS Foundation Inc., an orphanage and rehabilitation center for abandoned infants and abused teenage girls, where she teaches music to inspire and uplift young residents.
8. Dia is dating actor-musician Juan Karlos Labajo.
During Valentine's last year, Juan Karlos made headlines when he "hard-launched" his relationship with Dia through an Instagram post. Since then, the actor-musician has been a steadfast supporter of his girlfriend's pageant journey.
9. Dia loves to travel.
When she's not juggling her double life as a beauty queen and musician, Dia enjoys traveling. Whether it’s a beach getaway or a mountain hike, she cherishes her time spent outdoors.
10. Dia is the country's second Reina Hispanoamericana titleholder.
Dia follows the footsteps of Winwyn Marquez, who first claimed the Reina Hispanoamericana title eight years ago in 2017. In an Instagram Story, Winwyn expressed her excitement for Dia's win. "OMG!! I am so happy!!" she gushed.
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