The Philippines will be represented in the international Miss Universe pageant by beauty queen Michelle Dee, who stunned the judges on Saturday by saying that the biggest gift the Philippines can give the world is its people, their warmth, and hospitality.
Dee, a 28-year-old actress and model who represented Makati City, defeated 37 other contestants to win the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2023 on Saturday.
The top five competitors were asked the identical question at the competition’s final round at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. When asked what the Philippines could best offer the world—in connection to the country’s new tourist motto, “we give the world our best”—she said that its greatest resource was its people.
“The Philippines is home to very beautiful natural resources, from the beaches to the mountains, but I believe that the best natural resources that the Philippines has is us Filipinos,” she said. “We are the true heart and soul of the Philippines with the way we are hospitable, with the warm smiles … and we are the reason why the world keeps coming back for more.”
Melanie Marquez, an actress and producer who won the Miss International title in 1979, is Dee’s mother. As a pageant organizer, Marquez has also mentored a number of beauty queens who have gone on to represent the Philippines abroad.
Winwyn Marquez, an actress and model, is also a beauty queen and was named Miss Reina Hispoamericana in 2017, a competition that honors Hispanic beauty.
Dee, who won Miss World Philippines in 2019, has furthermore represented the Philippines at an international competition. At the Miss World pageant held in London, where Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh was declared the winner that year, she placed among the top 12.
“People ask me why I do this time and time again,” Dee said in the run-up to Miss Universe Philippines. “My answer is simple: purpose and passion. And for each year that I’ve joined I come with a burning passion to raise awareness for the advocacies I champion and with a purpose, to use myself and my voice for the greater good of our fellow kababayans.
“Every time I step on a stage, I am aware that I am not only doing this for myself, but I’m doing this for every Filipino who has ever had a dream they’re fighting to achieve. This is why every time, I give my all because I know that what I am doing is so much bigger than myself and to be given the chance to shed light on these advocacies and beliefs is truly the prize in this whole journey.”
Dee, a psychology graduate, is just the second Filipina, after Catriona Gray, to have won both the Miss World Philippines and Miss Universe Philippines titles.
Before winning Binibining Pilipinas in 2018 and earning the opportunity to represent her nation in the Miss Universe pageant, Gray was the Miss World Philippines winner in 2016. A few months later, she was named Miss Universe 2018, becoming the fourth Filipina to win the title.
Gray congratulated Dee on her win on Saturday, saying: “Excited to witness how you’ll carry our sash again!”.
Dee will aim to emulate Gray’s accomplishments at the Miss Universe 2023 competition, which will take place in El Salvador on an undetermined date.
“It’s not done until it’s won,” she posted on Instagram soon after her win. “That has been my mindset not just for this year but for all the times I joined Miss Universe Philippines. No matter how it looks, it never got easier to prepare for each time I would compete.
“Each year was full of hard work, sacrifices and risks that I hope pay off at the end. Winning this year validates not just to me but to every Filipino that with hard work, perseverance and passion, you can achieve anything.”
