Michelle Dee, daughter of Melanie Marquez, is crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023
MANILA, Philippines — Michelle Dee from Makati has been crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2023 and will represent the country at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant to be held later this year in El Salvador.
The new Miss Universe Philippines, receiving her crown at the Mall of Asia Arena, also won a slew of awards including Miss Aqua Boracay, Pond's, and Zion Philippines.
Dee also won Best in Evening Gown, the same award she won last year when she finished as Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022 right behind the beauty queen she has succeeded, Celeste Cortesi.
During the Question & Answer portion, Dee was asked about the high income inequality in the Philippines and how the gap between the rich and the poor can be closed.
The new Miss Universe Philippines began by saying we should recognize what we have particularly our privileges such as food, education, and homes.
"I think the best way to address this is really through education because education holds no status quo, and every Filipino child has the right to an education," Dee continue. "Not just any education but quality education, because I believe if the government can provide this to every Filipino child then we can not only elevate their quality of life but we can empower them as well.
The question asked to all contestants that made the Top 5 was about the Department of Tourism's new branding campaign "We give the world our best" and the beauty queens were asked for their own interpretation of what the Philippines' best is to be offered to the world.
"The Philippines is home for very beautiful natural resources — from the beaches, the mountains — but I firmly believe that the best natural resource that the Philippines has is us Filipinos," Dee responded. "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."
Related: FULL TEXT: Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Final Question and Answer segment
Dee ended her winning answer with, "No matter where the universe takes me, I will always be proud to call the Philippines my home. And no matter what happens, I will always be proud to call myself Pinoy."
Reigning Miss Universe, Filipino-American R'Bonney Gabriel, and Miss Universe 2019 Zozobini Tunzi were present at the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 coronation which carried the theme "Inspirational Filipina."
In the live announced runner-up positions were Zambales' Christine Opiaza (1st runner-up) and Pampanga's Angelique Manto (2nd-runner-up).
The positions of Miss Universe Philippines Tourism and Miss Universe Philippines Charity will be designated between Bohol's Pauline Amelinckx and Baguio's Krishnah Gravidez at a separate event.
Dee is the daughter of former character actor Frederick "Derek" Dee and actress-beauty queen Melanie Marquez who was crowned Miss International back in 1979.
She graduated from the De La Salle University with a Psychology degree and in 2021 completed a certificate program in Entrepreneurship Essentials from the Harvard Business School.
Her previous pageant experience — apart from last year's edition — was finishing in the Top 12 of Miss World 2019; Dee has also dabbled in modelling and acting like her parents.
Dee now succeeds Cortesi as Miss Universe Philippines and will hope to improve on the latter's position in the annual Miss Universe competition and bring the Philippines back in the semifinal rounds — and hopefully all the way to the crown — and prove the nation's pageant powerhouse status.
RELATED: Miss Universe Philippines 2023 faces 'technical issues'
