Melanie Marquez and Gloria Diaz
Melanie Marquez expressed gratitude to Gloria Diaz for the latter’s support during her pageant days, and always had good words for her even now that their hey days have gone.
Both Marquez and Diaz started as beauty queens. Diaz was Miss Universe 1969, while Marquez was Miss International 1979.
Diaz was recently quoted as saying that in her book that Marquez was a perfect 10 as Miss International and that she really supported the latter’s pageant bid. On the other hand, Diaz gave Marquez’s daughter, Michelle Dee, an 8/10 score when she competed in the Miss Universe pageant last November 18 (Nov 19 in the Philippines).
Reacting to Diaz’s comment, Marquez said in a recent interview with Boy Abunda, Marquez thanked her fellow beauty queen as she shared how Diaz had supported her to be crowned at the Binibining Pilipinas pageant.
“I’m so flattered. Thank you so much, Miss Gloria Diaz… I’ve been so grateful ever since to Miss Gloria Diaz. In my time, talagang pinaglaban niya ako,” said Marquez.
“Pinaglaban niya na kailangan merong korona ako in some way because she can see that I’m actually a person who can carry and win a crown internationally, so kumbaga kahit na nung nakatayo kaming lahat, nagstop siya in the middle because I’m the tallest, and she said, ‘I want you to win.’ And ako naman, na-boost talaga ‘yung ego ko, nagkaroon ako ng confidence,” she further said.
On Michelle Dee’s Miss Universe performance
Marquez then commented on her daughter’s recent Miss Universe performance, stating how proud she is that Dee managed to exceed her expectations.
“Sa totoo lang sinurpersa ako ng anak ko. Yung expectations ko na gusto makita, hinigitan niya. Ang sabi ko lang sa anak ko bago umalis, ‘Anak, put a mark in everything you do na hindi makakalimutan ng tao.’ Dahil kapag original ka, talagang tatatak ‘yan sa utak nila, and you will always be remembered,” she said.
She also weighed in on her daughter coming out as bisexual, emphasizing that she doesn’t interfere with her children’s choices as it is a way of respecting them.
“Sakin kasi I’ve always believed where my children would be happy. Alam naman nila ‘yung right and wrong, so when it comes to their choices in life, I just let them know the consequences of what will happen and the rest will be their choices. Ganon ‘yung respeto na binibigay ko sa mga anak ko. Hindi ako diktadora,” she claimed.