Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo has taken a major step toward a long-held goal, announcing Monday that she is officially enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine program at the University of Santo Tomas.

The beauty queen-turned-actress shared the update on social media, marking a return to academics years after rising to national prominence on the pageant stage.

Mateo, who represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe pageant in 2021, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy degree from Iloilo Doctors’ College in 2018. Her academic distinction came two years before she clinched the Miss Universe Philippines crown.

In March, Mateo also revealed that she achieved a General Performance Score of 741 on the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), a key requirement for admission to medical schools in the country.

Mateo has previously spoken about her desire to become a doctor, citing her background in health sciences and her interest in serving communities as driving factors behind the move.