PH bet Michelle Marquez Dee ends Miss Universe 2023 journey in Top 10
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 19) — Philippine bet Michelle Marquez Dee capped off her Miss Universe 2023 journey in the Top 10 on Sunday (Philippine time).
Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel crowned Nicaraguas' Sheynnis Palacios as her successor after besting 84 other contestants from around the world in the 72nd edition of the international pageant held in El Salvador.
Palacios made history as the first representative from her country to win the crown.
Thailand's Anntonia Porsild and Australia's Moraya Wilson placed first and second runners-up, respectively.
Dee was called sixth during the announcement of the Top 10 finalists. She put the country back in the finals after Miss Philippines Celeste Cortesi was unable to reach the semifinals in 2022.
The 28-year-old Dee was breathtaking as she showed her signature "Snake Walk" and paraded her tattoo-inspired evening gown, a tribute to the oldest indigenous Filipino tattoo artist Whang-Od.
The Philippine bet also was among the three golden winners of the “Voice for Change” campaign for her advocacy on autism awareness and inclusivity. Dee joined Angola's Ana Bárbara Coimbra and Puerto Rico's Karla Guilfú Acevedo.
Dee earlier shined on the pageant's preliminary stage on Thursday (PH time) ahead of the coronation night, captivating the audience with her emerald green bejeweled evening gown a nod to the Marquez's signature lucky green color.
On Friday, the beauty queen strutted the pageant stage with an airplane-themed national costume as a nod to her military reservist training, and the "Love the Philippines" tourism campaign displayed at the back of the plane's wings.
The last Philippine representative to win the Miss Universe crown was Catriona Gray in 2018. Other Miss Universe queens from the country include Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969)
