Michelle, inalala kung ba’t most bashed MU Ph

Malawakang ipinagdiriwang sa bansa ngayon ang Pride Month. Muling nakikiisa si Michelle Dee sa selebrasyong ito ng LGBTQIA+ community.

“For me, it’s really about authenticity, celebrating who you are, who you’re always meant to be, finding that strength within yourself to be who you are. This community has done so much for me. And I’m just really happy that once again, we’re in that time of the year that we’re really celebrating our flag loud and proud,” nakangiting bungad sa amin ni Michelle sa Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. 

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay makapagtatanghal ang beauty queen sa gaganaping Pride PH LoveL4ban. Ang parada ay mangyayari sa U.P. Diliman ngayong June 27.  “That’s one of the biggest Pride parades here in the Philippines. I’ll be perfor­ming an original single ‘Makatanong.’ I usually perform two songs. ‘Yung second song, surprise ko na lang po ‘yon. Along with sana ‘yung special guest na gusto kong iakyat sa stage, makakaakyat po,” pagbabahagi ng dalaga.

Matatandaang tatlong taon na ang nakalilipas nang lumantad sa publiko si Michelle bilang isang bisexual. “2023 was also the year I won Miss Universe Philippines. I didn’t have plans to come out. But during that time kasi I was also one of the most bashed Miss Universe Philippines. Ang bina-bash naman sa akin before was ‘yung hitsura ko. Kasi athletic ako, very tomboyish. So ‘yon ang kumalat na story.

“Pero the reason why I was being bashed I guess nadagdag na lang ‘yung itsura ko when I was in high school. It was because I was different. I wasn’t your stereotypical Miss Universe na long luscious hair. I was really advocating for an apologetic authenticity. It’s not enough for people to take away that story but to weaponize your identity against you, siyempre I wanted to control that story. ‘Coz it’s my story to tell. And I guess what I really wanted was, is to also inspire other people, na you don’t have to be afraid of who you are.

“And you don’t have to shy away in a corner just because people are bullying you, people are taking your story against you. The only way for you to get that power back is you yourself talk about it,” pagbabalik-tanaw ng beauty queen.

Naging madali umano para kay Michelle ang ginawang paglantad sa publiko ng kanyang tunay na pagkatao dahil na rin sa kanyang mga mahal sa buhay. “It was somehow tough, the decision, but if you have the support of your your family, your friends, it doesn’t make it so hard. It wasn’t a secret naman eh. It’s just I never publicly came out officially. Pero a lot of good things came out of that. A lot of parents messaged me after my story came out. They were like, ‘Thank you.’ Siguro may mga anak din sila. They’ve found inspiration, just because you’re part of the LGBT community, it doesn’t mean that limits you from reaching greater heights. No one can take away that I won Miss Universe Philippines. And just because you’re part of the community, it doesn’t mean that you are limited to less. You are actually capable of doing so much more if you embrace yourself,” dagdag pa ng Miss Universe Philippines 2023. — Reports from JCC