THE highly anticipated Miss Universe pageant is drawing near, and 90 delegates from around the world will compete for the much-coveted title. Philippine bet Michelle Marquez Dee plans to unleash her “tenacious” side on the global stage in the bid to take home the country’s fifth crown.

The 28-year-old beauty queen revealed this in an exclusive interview with republicasia after her send-off event in Quezon City on October 26. Dee is set to leave for El Salvador to compete in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant on November 18.

Dee said that while Filipinos have so many amazing qualities, being tenacious is the characteristic that can best represent our countrymen, and that this is what she wishes to highlight in the competition.

“[I]f I had to choose one [quality], it would be tenacious. Tenacious enough to go through whatever life throws at you and still come out with a smile, and with all of the lessons that come with those journeys and those experiences,” she said.

“I believe that everything, everyone that I’ve met throughout the course of my life has a tenacious factor and quality. I really know that that’s what best represents our culture as well,” she continued.

Dee said that she will also showcase her brand of being “unapologetically authentic” in the pageant.

The beauty queen hopes to tell people that they should be unashamed for being who they are.

“You don’t have to say sorry for breaking barriers or not fitting into this mold. Just because you don’t fit in a certain group, doesn’t mean you can’t fit in somewhere else,” she said.

She stressed that each one of us has the ability to speak to somebody, open the eyes of many, and influence others to be better through their actions.

Dee told republicasia that she will unveil more of herself to the universe, to demonstrate how “empowered” she is.

“What the Philippines should expect is for me to showcase more of my story. Why am I the way I am? Of course, people know that I will be carrying my advocacy, autism inclusivity and empowerment, with me, but there [are] so many facets that come along with the pageant journey,” she shared.

Dee also thanked her team who supported her and equipped her for the upcoming pageant.

“I just want to take the chance to also thank everybody that made sure that I am not alone in this journey as well,” she said.

“It takes a village to have one queen standing on the stage, so I’m very excited for you all to see that,” she added.

Be kind, empathetic

Dee is bringing her advocacy for autism acceptance, inclusivity and empowerment on her journey to the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.

But the beauty queen said she doesn’t want people, especially the Generation Z, to focus only on her advocacy but also on how they treat other people better regardless of who they are.

“I wouldn’t want all of you to just focus on advocacy because what you can do for individuals on the autism spectrum is to treat them kindly, to be empathetic, to understand that they have so much worth in them than how the world generally perceives them,” Dee noted.

“Whether they’re on the spectrum, whether they’re your neighbor, whether they’re your family, just treat each other with so much love and kindness. And you can never go wrong because if wala ka namang tinatapakan, wala namang masasaktan,” she added.

Dee described Gen Z as an “amazing generation” that is “very fast forward, fast-paced, [and] very tech-savvy.” But she hopes that these young people would also find time to detach themselves from technology.

“That’s how we can influence the generations of tomorrow. To be at their best is if you guys live your life to the fullest,” she said.

She also advised them to avoid comparing themselves with others “so that nobody gets hurt.”

Giving her all

Dee, who is among the top 3 delegates in Asia-Pacific based on fan voting, encouraged Filipinos to continue supporting her journey toward the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown by participating in the pageant’s online voting.

This will help her secure a spot in the semifinal round.

“I’m giving my all to make sure that all of us are best represented, so I hope that you could take a small amount of time in your day to vote for me and also vote for the causes close to my heart,” she said.

“At the end of the day, I just hope to make you all proud,” Dee concluded.