Michelle Dee on winning Miss Universe Philippines: 'Lahat ng hardwork, it all just pays off'
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After all her hard work, newest Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee feels relieved that it all paid off.
Newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee could not help but feel relief after all her hard work during the competition have paid off.
In her interview on 24 Oras with Vicky Morales and Mel Tiangco, the former Mga Lihim ni Urduja actress Michelle explained why her knees buckled after it was announced that she won the pageant.
“Ang dami ko po talagang pinagdaanan to get to that point and syempre, naranasan ko na siya last year, na matalo, tapos sinasabi ko nga sa mga kasama ko na true pala na mapapabagsak ka kasi lahat ng hardwork mo, it all just pays off,” she said.
She continued, “That relief na pwede ka nang bumitaw and you just celebrate, andun na 'yun. Halo-halo po talaga 'yung emotion.”
“Ang tagal ng announcement, ang higpit ng hawak namin sa mga kamay kamay namin. So when they finally called Makati, I couldn't help it, I just kinda felt weak,” she added.
In an Instagram post, Michelle proudly posted some snaps of her first walk as the newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines during the coronation night of the prestigious pageant.
In her caption, she shared that “It's not done until it's won.”
“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 was never and 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 [to] 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,” she wrote.
Her mom, actress, and Miss International 1979 title holder Melanie Marquez, was with her when she was crowned, and expressed how proud she is of her daughter, as told by Michelle.
“She was so proud of me and she really saw na ako daw po 'yung nag shine the brightest that night and I felt nothing but gratitude because I am doing this for her, I wanted this to be the best Mother's day gift that I could give her and syempre, what I told her din on stage was, 'Ma, Happy Mother's day!" she said in her interview on 24 Oras.
When asked what her mom whispered to her on stage, she answered, “Anak, I'm so proud of you, you did it.”
According to Michelle, what gave her the edge to win the pageant was the strength, motivation, and determination she discovered after previously joining the pageant.
“I honestly believed that for every time that I joined the pageant, I discovered so much of myself. This last year was one of the hardest years I've ever had to face my whole life and that really gave me strength, gave me motivation and determination to really succeed,” she said.
She added, “Iba po kasi talaga when it's your last year and you're faced with this decision na 'sasabak ba 'ko ulit and take that risk?' because I really won first runner up, that's an amazing feat already.”
“But I knew I had so much more to offer and I had so much more to show my fellow kababayans so that's what my inspiration was. Of course, my brothers, my autistic brothers are my life long advocacy and I really took that to heart as well,” she continued.
When asked what was the most important tip she got from Melanie, Michelle answered, “Just be confident, claim whatever you want to claim, and shine as your own woman.”
DESPITE WINNING MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES, THESE 'ANGAS' LOOKS WILL PROVE THAT MICHELLE IS NOT JUST ANY BEAUTY QUEEN:
