Rabiya Mateo achieved a major feat in the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) after earning a 741 General Performance Score (GPS), placing her among the top 1% of examinees nationwide.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2020 reposted an Instagram Story showing a post from the Tatak Ilonggo page celebrating the achievement.
Netizens even compared Rabiya to the viral fictional character Linda Walker, known for her exceptional academic performance and for scoring 719 points on a tricky mock exam in the drama The Heiress Who Won with Brains. The role is played by Chinese actress Zhang Yingfei in the show.
READ: Chinese star Zhang Yingfei reacts to unexpected fame as ‘Linda Walker’
The National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) is a standardized exam that individuals who wish to pursue medicine in the Philippines must take before applying to medical school.
Results of the exam include a General Performance Score (GPS), which is reported on a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800, as well as a percentile rank that indicates how a test-taker performed relative to other examinees.
Back in February, Rabiya revealed that she was enrolling in medical school. "It's a calling and I'm so happy to share this to everybody that I'm gonna go back to med school. And I wanted to become a doctor ever since," she said in an interview with DJ Chacha in her YouTube vlog.
Rabiya graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Iloilo Doctors' College in 2018.
Aside from fulfilling a lifelong dream, Rabiya shared that her desire to better understand her own mental health also played a role in her decision.
"Siguro isa rin sa fact because I really want to understand my situation right now. And aside from that, gusto ko rin makatulong overall," she shared. "I really wanna use my knowledge to help people."
Rabiya Mateo reveals she is enrolling in med school
The beauty queen added that she now feels ready to take the next step after achieving financial stability through investments and business ventures that can support her studies.
"I am also blessed na at least nandito na rin ako sa point ng life ko na I think I was able to save enough, may mga investments na rin ako, some businesses na would support my studies. At ito po talaga 'yung gusto ko, parang I have been praying for this," she relayed.