“For the first time in my whole life, I’m just letting myself do what I can and trust what I know,” says Dia Maté, 23. MARNI coat, UNIQLO:C tank top. Photographed by Geric Cruz
In this month’s Vogue Spotlight, the reigning Reina Hispanoamericana Dia Maté talks about her first love: music.
“Oh my god, it’s been a while since I’ve seen my face like this!” Dia Maté exclaims, looking at herself on the monitor on set at her Vogue Philippines shoot. Her makeup today is a lot subtler than what she’s been used to in the past year. All through 2024, the 23-year-old had been busy preparing and competing for pageants: Miss Universe Philippines 2024, Miss World Philippines 2024, and ultimately, Reina Hispanoamericana 2025, where she was crowned as the titleholder.
Reflecting on her whirlwind year, Maté says that the experience is what allowed her to grow more adaptable and resilient. “With the pageant life, you expect so many different changes,” she shares. “What I expected in my first national pageant didn’t happen. I had to adapt and go for another plan, which is when all of these good things happened.”
Maté walked a different path before pageantry. “I was a musician first,” she says. “I’ve been making music ever since I was 18, been writing songs since I was 13, and playing instruments since I was 6.” She’s always dreamt of being in the music industry, first drawn to the idea of working as an executive in a record label. She admits that she didn’t see herself becoming a signed artist; that was until she was given the opportunity while fulfilling an internship at Island Records Philippines.
Since then, she’s released songs such as “Kalimutan,” “I Wanna Make You Mine,” “Ganda-Gandahan,” and her most recent single, “Ikaw Ang Pinili Ko.” Maté describes her songwriting process as an emotional one, a creative tool that helps her mental health. “As someone who’s been through depression and anxiety, music has really helped me,” she says. “I’m able to translate that emotion into lyrics, and that’s how I create my art.”
Her emotional journey is mapped out in her discography: heartbreak is felt when you listen to “Heart Hates Me,” while themes of doubt and courage are explored in “Another Day.” Her most recent songs, though, take on an empowering beat. “I was a very emotional gal,” she openly says. “I’m mentally better, and I’m mentally happier. So I get to make music that reflects that now.”
After experiencing how music can heal, Maté’s advocacy work strives to do the same for others. At CRIBS Foundation, a non-profit organization for abandoned and neglected children, she regularly volunteers as a music teacher, describing her lessons as some of the most particularly fulfilling moments in her day. “I see the girls loosen up. They get happier, and they’re having fun.”
She continues, “But the most rewarding experience was when we had a small benefit concert in CRIBS.” It was held last year between her preparations for Miss World Philippines, and she was able to raise PHP 600,000 for the non-profit, to fund their creative projects. Together with fellow musicians Janine Berdin, Dom Guyot, Julianne, Elise Huang, and others, they volunteered to perform at the rehab center, where the children rarely get to see live performances. “One of the girls said, ‘I love you coach! Thank you for always coming back,’” she smiles. “That’s what really hit me so hard because it shows that even the smallest thing you can do makes a difference in someone’s life.”
For Maté, pageantry became another platform where she could help others while pursuing her passion. “Pageantry was a good segue into doing something on stage, but also being able to advocate for something that I believe in,” she says. In her life, pageantry, music, and advocacy aren’t separate from each other. She believes she can make a significant impact by integrating her three passions.
This year, Maté plans on releasing an album, centering on empowering others, uplifting communities, and her personal experiences. “This year is really going to be the year when I fully embody and embrace who I am and show that to people through my music,” she says. While working on her music, Maté will also be fulfilling her Reina Hispoamericana responsibilities, traveling to Latin America and Asia to promote Hispanic culture.
As her journey continues, Maté shares that the experience has taught her more about herself. “For the first time in my whole life, I’m just letting myself do what I can and trust what I know. That I am smart enough, and I can really do anything that I set my mind to.”
Whatever she sets her mind to, Maté is composing a future that’s entirely her own.
By DAPHNE SAGUN. Photographs by GERIC CRUZ. Video directed and edited by LORENZO CORRO. Media Channels Editor ANZ HIZON. Digital Associate Editor CHELSEA SARABIA. Styling by Anz Hizon and Chelsea Sarabia. Makeup: Yaj Labeo. Hair: Michole Mananquil. Producer: Bianca Zaragoza. Talent coordinator: Bianca Ferro. Final artist: Bea Lu. Retouch: Grace Sioson. Digital multimedia artist: Myc Priestley. Photographer’s assistant: Karlo Baylon. Video assistants: Heinrich Torres, Angelo Tiu. Special thanks to Krishna Basarza and Donnabel Jovita. Shot on location at The Villa Studios.
