On October 26, Miss Universe Philippines representative Michelle Dee listed her advocacies as she competes for the Miss Universe 2023 crown.
At the media conference for her send-off to El Salvador, which LionhearTV covered, Dee discussed her advocacies, such as autism awareness, the LGBTQIA+ community, mental health, and women empowerment.
“Autism awareness is something that I live and breathe, and I advocate for because of my siblings. But I feel very vocal about my support para sa LGBTQIA+ community that I’m a part of, and as well as mental health and women empowerment as well. [A lot] of the causes I love to advocate for as well–I mean, Miss Universe is an [amazing] platform. It has so much pace to voice out all of the concerns and issues [that are] surrounding us vocally.”
She then noted how the recent transition of the Miss Universe pageant toward an advocacy-focused format made her join the competition.
“That very adjustment, which is more focused on the advocacies–is what prompted me and inspired me to try again. It was such an [amazing] feeling to [already] win First Runner up next to Celeste Cortesi, but when I found, and I saw that Miss Universe is making this transition to empower everybody and promote inclusivity, to give emphasis in how we can utilize the Miss Universe platform into your own advocacies as well. It really was a full circle moment for me.”
She then highlighted her life-long advocacy for autism awareness because of her love for her siblings.
“As you all know, I joined my first pageant because of that aspect of advocacy, and I’ve always brought in my mind, my heart, and my soul, [and] my two siblings in the autism spectrum, which in turn has created a life-long advocacy in me. So the fact that I’m once again bringing them into the global stage, advocate for them, champion for those who don’t have the voice, that really is the thing that inspires me the most.”
Present at her send-off event were officials from Miss Universe Philippines Organization, Sparkle GMA Artist Center, and fellow beauty queens Miss Supranational 2023 1st Runner Up Pauline Amelinckx and Miss Universe PH 2023 1st Runner Up CJ Opiaza.
Dee’s pageant journey involved her titles for Miss World Philippines 2019 and Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022. Adding to her title is the Miss Universe Philippines 2023, making her the representative for the 72nd Miss Universe Pageant, held in El Salvador, Spain.
The voting for the semi-finals for Miss Universe 2023 starts this November 3, 2023, at 6 p.m.
To support Dee and her Miss Universe journey, fans and supporters may vote by clicking this link. For her Voice for Change video, Pinoy pageant fans can visit this link.
