(From left) Michelle Dee, Rhian Ramos. Image: Instagram/@whianwamos
Rhian Ramos still gets emotional for best friend Michelle Dee, who’s currently in El Salvador for Miss Universe 2023, because she witnessed the crossover stunner’s dedication to making her dreams come true.
In an exclusive chat with INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of the Opulence Halloween Ball, Ramos shared that she is ambivalent about Dee being away for the global tilt, but at the same time, the Kapuso star is confident that beauty queen-actress will “give [it] her all.”
“Honestly, it’s mixed feelings,” the actress said, when asked about Dee’s Miss Universe journey in El Salvador. “I’m definitely going to miss her but I’m so excited for her also in this next portion of her life.”
Despite missing her best friend, Ramos spoke about how the beauty queen “amazed [her] so many times” throughout their friendship, and that she would do a good job in El Salvador.
“I have absolute trust in her, but she is going to give it her all and perform so well. She has impressed me so many times, and she has amazed me so many times. And she’s about to do it again,” she said.
Ramos’ closeness to Dee was put on spotlight when she burst into tears after the latter was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2023 in May. It’s been months since then, but she still gets emotional about Dee’s journey.
“I feel like she’s my sister. Isn’t that what friends are, diba (right)? They are the family that we choose,” she said, before describing how she’s determined to “do the work.”
“I think just being with her on her journey for the past two to three years, I witnessed how much she deserves it,” she continued. “I think that’s why I get so emotional for her because I want to see all of her dreams come true because she does the work. She’s not the kind of person who [simply] hopes for a lot and does nothing.”
Even though Dee has made a mark in pageantry, Ramos maintained that she has no plans of following in her footsteps.
“I feel like for me and my life, it’s probably impossible at this point. I just don’t think I’m that kind of poised girl. I don’t think I’m going to enjoy it the way other people enjoy it,” she said.
Before flying to El Salvador, Dee revealed that she opted to sport a shorter hairstyle for her Miss Universe journey because she wants to “send a message” that a beauty queen shouldn’t be boxed to a certain standard.