Michelle Dee penetrates Miss Universe poll’s initial leaderboard

Michelle Dee. Image: Instagram/@themissuniverseph

MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos appeared to have heeded the call and propelled Michelle Marquez Dee in the online poll for the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, securing for her a spot among the Top 10 delegates who garnered the most votes in the initial tabulation.

“It’s neck and neck!” said the pageant’s social media post when it announced the names of the 10 ladies who topped the first count as of Oct. 12 (Oct. 13 in Manila). The delegates were listed in no particular order.

Joining Dee on the initial list are some of her fellow international pageant veterans, 2021 Miss World quarterfinalist Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua, 2018 Miss Earth Fire Melissa Flores from Mexico, 2021 Miss Supranational first runner-up Karla Acevedo from Puerto Rico, and 2019 Miss Supranational Anntonia Porsild from Thailand.

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Also on the list are Diane Leyre from France, Endi Dember from Albania, Amara Bo from Myanmar, Celeste Viel from Chile, and Maya Abou El Hosn from Lebanon. Missing from the roster are the representatives of Vietnam and Indonesia, countries who have traditionally shown their might in pageant online polls.

The Miss Universe pageant officially opened the voting last week via its official mobile app. The application, developed by Choicely, is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for free.

Reigning queen R’Bonney Gabriel herself encouraged Miss Universe fans to “help me crown my successor.” She also said the first vote is free. Subsequent votes will require a form of a payment through the app. The delegate with the most votes will advance to the semifinals.

In 2013, Filipino delegate Ariella Arida cracked the Top 16 by getting the highest number of votes from an online poll. She finished as third runner-up at the end of the competition

Dee, daughter of 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez and cousin of 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez, will aim for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe victory, after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).

The 2023 Miss Universe pageant will hold its coronation show in El Salvador on Nov. 18 (Nov. 19 in Manila). Eighty-seven delegates from around the world will take part in the competition.  /ra