Congratulations, Filipinas! Michelle Marquez Dee's journey towards the Miss Universe 2023 crown concluded with an admirable Top 10 finish.
Miss Philippines Michelle Dee's Miss Universe 2023 Journey
The beauty queen and award-winning actress was undoubtedly one of the top performers throughout the pageant. Upon exclaiming "Filipinas!" at the preliminaries, the first delegate of our country to do so, she impressed with her swimsuit and evening gown performances.
Swimsuit
Evening Gown - Preliminaries
She made a statement in the prelims wearing an emerald green gown by Mark Bumgarner, which stayed true to her edgy yet elegant aesthetic. The piece's verdant hue was a tribute to her mom, Melanie Marquez, who wore the same color on her run at Miss International.
National Costume
For the national costume segment, the 28-year-old decided to spotlight our country's tourism, while also giving a nod to her post as an Air Force officer. She took flight in an ensemble crafted by Michael Barassi.
Evening Gown - Coronation Night
Come finals night, Michelle continued to wow us with her signature pasarela, which was best showcased with her breathtaking final gown. The frock, once again designed by Michelle's close friend and go-to designer Mark Bumgarner, was inspired by indigenous tattoo artist and national treasure Apo Whang-Od.
Despite not advancing to the Q&A round, our candidate was still among the Gold Winners of the Voice for Change challenge. As someone who grew up with two siblings on the autism spectrum, Michelle advocated for autism awareness and acceptance.
The beauty queens who advanced to the Top 5 were representatives from Australia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Thailand, and Nicaragua. Ultimately, the Force for Good crown landed on Sheynnis Palacios' head, becoming Nicaragua's first-ever winner. Congrats, Sheynnis!
You made us so, so proud, MMD! Take a bow!
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
