Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Top 30 finalist Joanna Rabe has withdrawn from the pageant for health reasons.
After being infected with dengue fever, the 26-year-old beauty queen from Zambales had to make the difficult decision of ending her MUP 2021 journey just over a week before coronation night.
“With great sadness, I would like to inform you that my Miss Universe Philippines journey has been cut short. I got dengue fever earlier this week and my doctors advised that I would need more time to recover my strength,” she posted on Instagram.
Joanna also took the chance to thank the people who have been with her throughout her pageant journey, including her family, friends, fellow candidates, and the Miss Universe Philippines Organization. She also expressed her gratitude to her Aces and Queens family, designers, photographers, and makeup artists.
“I am forever indebted to the people who helped me in this journey… And thank you so much Miss Universe Philippines Organization. I have grown so much,” she said. “I hope to see everyone, in a bigger stage and much brighter circumstances in the future.”
The remaining delegates who made it to the Top 30 will compete live on September 25, 2021. Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo will crown her successor who will represent the country in the 70th edition of the Miss Universe pageant in December.
