![Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee has returned a winner for Filipinos, given her superb performance in El Salvador’s pageant culmination. Even if she failed to win the crown, there is no doubt in the hearts of this beauty contest-loving nation that the stage was hers and she was queen that night. Touched by the endless homecoming events organized for “our queen,” be it from fellow queens, entertainment circles and various government agencies, Dee is bursting with gratitude for everyone who supported her. She especially told The Manila Times during a media conference at GMA Network that as she basks in all the praise and congratulations, Dee realizes more and more she made the right decision to join show business before venturing into pageantry. “Like I’ve always said, I was quite shy growing up. And even if I knew I wanted to go into pageantry from the start, I intentionally joined showbiz first before competing because I knew I didn’t have the confidence to be in front of so many people — more so a pageant where everything about you is scrutinized.” Dee went on to say that her experience as an actress gave her performance an edge throughout the pageant, effusing, “And for that, I will forever be grateful to [my management group] Sparkle, and of course, GMA.” TMA](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.manilatimes.net/theme_manilatimes/images/TMT_1920x1008.jpg&w=852&q=100&f=webp&t=1.0)
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee has returned a winner for Filipinos, given her superb performance in El Salvador’s pageant culmination. Even if she failed to win the crown, there is no doubt in the hearts of this beauty contest-loving nation that the stage was hers and she was queen that night. Touched by the endless homecoming events organized for “our queen,” be it from fellow queens, entertainment circles and various government agencies, Dee is bursting with gratitude for everyone who supported her. She especially told The Manila Times during a media conference at GMA Network that as she basks in all the praise and congratulations, Dee realizes more and more she made the right decision to join show business before venturing into pageantry. “Like I’ve always said, I was quite shy growing up. And even if I knew I wanted to go into pageantry from the start, I intentionally joined showbiz first before competing because I knew I didn’t have the confidence to be in front of so many people — more so a pageant where everything about you is scrutinized.” Dee went on to say that her experience as an actress gave her performance an edge throughout the pageant, effusing, “And for that, I will forever be grateful to [my management group] Sparkle, and of course, GMA.” TMA
![Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee has returned a winner for Filipinos, given her superb performance in El Salvador’s pageant culmination. Even if she failed to win the crown, there is no doubt in the hearts of this beauty contest-loving nation that the stage was hers and she was queen that night. Touched by the endless homecoming events organized for “our queen,” be it from fellow queens, entertainment circles and various government agencies, Dee is bursting with gratitude for everyone who supported her. She especially told The Manila Times during a media conference at GMA Network that as she basks in all the praise and congratulations, Dee realizes more and more she made the right decision to join show business before venturing into pageantry. “Like I’ve always said, I was quite shy growing up. And even if I knew I wanted to go into pageantry from the start, I intentionally joined showbiz first before competing because I knew I didn’t have the confidence to be in front of so many people — more so a pageant where everything about you is scrutinized.” Dee went on to say that her experience as an actress gave her performance an edge throughout the pageant, effusing, “And for that, I will forever be grateful to [my management group] Sparkle, and of course, GMA.” TMA](https://www.manilatimes.net/manilatimes/uploads/images/2023/12/08/276457.jpg)