Melanie Marquez on daughter Michelle Dee’s journey to Miss Universe crown: Claim it

Veteran models and former beauty queens gathered recently to support the fashion show of designer Renee Salud held at Dusit Thani Hotel last week. These were the designer’s muses, all of whom had walked the runway at one point in their careers and this time, they were there to lend support and a touch of glamour.

Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1990 Gem Padilla-Thomas kept us in stitches recalling some of the faux pas of her friend Binibining Pilipinas International Patty Betita. Working the room were Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2005 Gionna Cabrera, Binibining. Pilipinas Universe 1979 Criselda “Dang” Cecilio, Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism 1993 Jenette Fernando and Miss Universe 1984 runner-up Desiree Verdadero Abesamis.

Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez was also present that afternoon and recalled how she prepared for the pageant held in Tokyo that year.

“I studied Japanese so I’d be able to use it and English at the competition, but I was really just being myself,” she said.

Her daughter, 24-year-old Michelle Dee, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023 and will represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador next month.The proud mom said that even before her daughter won Miss Universe Philippines, she constantly reminded her to manifest the win.

“I told her to walk and present herself as if she were already wearing the crown. Now that she’s about to leave for El Salvador, I reminded her the same thing: Claim it.” INQ