Boy Abunda confirms he was invited to Miss Universe as judge

Boy Abunda. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network

Boy Abunda disclosed that the Miss Universe Organization initially considered him to be one of the judges in the 2023 pageant, but that he was later disqualified after he did an interview of the Philippines’ bet Michelle Dee.

During the Nov. 21 episode of his talk show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” the King of Talk confirmed a Philippine Entertainment Portal report saying Abunda was invited to judge the global tilt.

“Lumabas po ang balita na I was invited, I was considered to judge in the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant sa El Salvador. Totoo po ‘yan; I confirm that,” the TV host said.

(There was a report saying I was invited, I was considered to judge in the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador. That is true; I confirm that.)

“Ako po ay inimbatan but I was also disqualified from judging this year’s Miss Universe dahil po I did an interview with one of the candidates, si Michelle Dee, na sa kanilang mga rules ay bawal,” he explained.

(I was invited but I was also disqualified from judging this year’s Miss Universe because I did an interview of one of the candidates, Michelle Dee, which violated their rules.)

Despite this, Abunda underscored that his interview with the actress-beauty queen was “worth it,” and quipped that he would have still voted for the latter if he were one of the judges.

Abunda further noted that he is happy with Dee’s Top 10 finish, hoping that he will have a conversation with her once she’s back in the country.

Dee competed with 83 other delegates in the Miss Universe coronation night held last Nov. 18 in El Salvador, wherein Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua emerged as the winner.

Aside from Dee’s Top 10 finish, she also bagged the Spirit of Carnival and fan vote awards, and was one of the pageant’s “Voice for Change” gold awardees.