Matea Mahal Smith Becomes First Winner of Filipino and Black Descent in Pageant’s 10-Year History

Matea Mahal Smith, who was born in Coral Springs, Florida, with family roots in Pililla, Rizal, Philippines, won the Miss Filipina International 2023 title in a glamorous, top-tier show in the prestigious International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Smith, 21, became the first winner of Filipino and Black descent in the 10-year history of the pageant. A student of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Florida, Smith hopes to become a trauma surgeon and positively impact people’s lives.

And that alone shows how much pageants have changed in recent years, for good. The first Miss America Beauty Pageant dates back to 1921 and you can guess that not a single woman of color participated. And certainly not a Neuroscience student.

As the top winner of MFI, now owned by Geoffrey Jimenez, Smith will receive a BMW 2 Series car and a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin Beverly Hills.

Last year’s winner, Blessa Ericha Figueroa, put the stunning brand new MFI crown, made of Swiss blue topaz, Japanese pearls and other gems, custom-designed by royalty designer Narcisa Pheres, on the head of Smith. The crown was presented by Jimenez while Michelle Dee, the reigning Miss Universe Philippines, put the sash on Smith.

Amanda Russo, born in Christiana, Delaware with family roots in Angeles City, Pampanga, bagged the Miss Filipina International Tourism title. The 18-year-old Finance and International Business student at Penn State University wants to give back to the Filipino community and find ways to better the lives of elders.

The other winners were Lauren Skeoch, First Runner-up; Patricia Bianca Tapia, Second Runner-up; and Rylen Faith Steinbuch, Third Runner-up. Russo and these winners will receive cash prizes and iSkin gift certificates.

From a field of 36 lovely aspirants representing various states across America and several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, 15 semi-finalists were chosen: Denisse Nicole Samaniego, Dakota Swart, Hannah Angelica Marte, Mary Ann Monda, Rylen Faith Steinbuch, Kelly McIlroy, Beatriz Mclelland, Matea Mahal Smith, Kawena Janessa Kanhai, Lauren Skeoch, Patricia Bianca Tapia, Jessica Zemanek, Amanda Russo, Heather Casignia and Issha Rose Mata.

The winners in other categories and of sponsor awards were: Best in Evening Gown, Manila International Film Festival Award and Enagic Water Ambassador, Beatriz Mclelland; Photogenic, iSkin award and Philippine Airlines award, Rylen Faith Steinbuch; Talent, Jessica Zemanek; Best National costume, Hope Corpus; Miss Eloquent, Heather Casignia; best in glam, Mary Ann Monda; Jojo Bragais Walk + Win Challenge, Amanda Russo; and Legaspi Tax Ambassador, Alyanna Joelle Santos.

The distinguished panel of judges on the coronation night included Michelle Dee, who will represent the Philippines in the 72^nd Miss Universe in El Salvador in November; Hollywood actress Vivica A. Fox (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “Independence Day” movies”); Krista Kleiner, Miss Philippines International title holder and philanthropist; Margaret Gardiner, Miss Universe title holder, author and entertainment journalist; Richard Maghanoy, iSkin Beverly Hills CEO and Image Body Spa COO; and Michelle Narvaez, Philippine Airlines officer-in-charge country manager in the U.S.

at the Miss Filipina International 2023 Coronation Night held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA on Saturday, ​August 5, 2023. (Photo By Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA)

Also among the eminent judges were Marc Anthony Nicolas, two-time Daytime Emmy-winning producer of “The Talk”; Narcisa Pheres, MFI crown designer whose clients include former First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Madonna, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez; Natty Pappas, shipping executive and consultant; Alden Richards, GMA’s popular singer-actor-host; Anton San Diego, editor-in-chief of Tatler Philippines for an impressive 22 years; Voltaire Tayag, Miss Universe Philippines communications director; and Kathleen Espina Ynion, successful restaurateur and wellness advocate.