Michelle Dee talks about backlash after MUPh win and her viral 'snake walk' at the pageant
Michelle Dee stressed the importance of choosing kindness as she talked about the backlash she received after her Miss Universe Philippines 2023 win.
In the May 16 episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the beauty queen was asked about her reaction to getting pitted against her pageant sisters following her feat.
“Honestly, I just wish people realize that we are sisters in pageantry, especially me and Pauline [Amelinckx], we spent the whole year together because we were both in the same reigning queen batch,” she said.
While the reigning MUPh queen acknowledged that bashing is "inevitable," she stressed the importance of choosing kindness no matter what.
“It's honestly inevitable because fans come there supporting their bets, they come in there thinking that the rage or their anger can change results, but it can't,” she said.
“So, if ever we're in a position to make changes, let's just choose to be kind and spread love. That's what I always tell my fans, be kind and always spread love,” she added.
Michelle Dee on her viral 'snake walk'
Michelle also made her mark at the local beauty pageant with her viral “snake walk,” which was inspired by her beauty-queen mom Melanie Marquez.
“When she models, hindi siya tumitigil, that’s something I take inspiration from,” she said.
“One of my good friends [and] favorite photographers, Doc Marlon, he was like, ‘That’s what your mom does, she never stops giving the camera something,'” she continued.
In her Unang Hirit interview that also aired on Tuesday, May 16, the MUPh 2023 titleholder credited the name of her iconic walk to netizens who widely talked about it on social media. "Hindi nanggagaling sa queen 'yung name, sa masa nagna-name ng walk."
Michelle clinched the highly coveted Miss Universe Philippines 2023 crown during the May 13 coronation night at Pasay's Mall of Asia Arena. Christine Opiaza (Zambales) was named first runner-up, followed by Angelique Manto (Pampanga) who won second runner-up. Krishnah Gravidez (Baguio) was crowned Miss Charm Philippines, while Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol) was announced as Miss Supranational Philippines.