After a whirlwind of emotions following her Miss Universe Philippines bid, the newly-crowned Michelle Dee penned a heartwarming thank-you speech to everyone who helped her throughout her pageant journey.
On Instagram, she spoke at length about her experience. “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 pay off in the end.”
ICYDK, Michelle first joined the prestigious national pageant last year, where she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines Tourism, finishing second to her competitor and good friend Celeste Cortesi. For her, winning the crown is a testament that one will reap the fruits of her labor come her own time. “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.
She then proceeded to thank everyone who supported her, from her management to sponsors and designers who lent their pieces for her wardrobe. She also gave a shout-out to her family and friends for “supporting [her] through all the ups and downs that come with this crazy and amazing ride.” “Thank you for being my rock and for giving me the strength to keep going,” she said.
The same love goes for the MUPH organization and all the fans who cheered her on. “To the Miss Universe Philippines Organization, thank you for trusting me to represent the Philippines on the international stage. All the efforts and hard work I did to win the crown yesterday will not stop there. Lastly, to my supporters, thank you for cheering me on through my pageant journey. When the going gets tough, your support pushes me to keep going. #mmdverse”
To conclude her post, she had the most inspiring message to her countrymen as she prepares to win the Philippines’ next Miss Universe crown. “The next chapter of my pageant journey is no longer my own. It's for each Filipino that I will be representing in El Salvador. Knowing this doesn't just inspire me. It pushes me to work even harder and to dream bigger. It pushes me to do whatever it takes to bring home the Miss Universe crown to the Philippines. #DEEPATAPOS ang laban. Naguumpisa palang tayo.”
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In the comments section, her fellow Miss Universe Philippines candidates—including Angelique Manto and Emmanuelle Vera, showered her with the sweetest words, debunking the usual notion that there’s bad blood between competitors. Even former Miss Universe Philippines titleholder Bea Gomez only had the most encouraging thing to say about the win of Melanie Marquez’s daughter.
Congratulations and we’re rooting for you, Michelle!
