Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, and MUPH delegates and officials. Images from Dee’s Instagram, Armin P. Adina
Michelle Marquez Dee is set to relinquish her Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) title on May 22, the national pageant organization said in a social media account. The coronation of her successor will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The MUPH organization also said that tickets to the live event, happening on a Wednesday night, will be available to the general public on April 8. No further details about the ceremonies have been released so far.
Dee successfully asserted the Philippines’ status as a Miss Universe “powerhouse” country when she hurdled the first cut at the contest’s 72nd edition held in El Salvador last year, doing better than her predecessor who broke the country’s 12-year placement streak that started in 2010.
She finished in the Top 10 of the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, where she also topped the online popularity poll, and was the leader in the voting for national costume. She was also one of the three “gold finalists” in the “Voice for Change” initiative by the pageant’s crown provider Mouawad with CI Talks, and received the “Spirit of Carnival” award from Carnival Cruises.
The eventual Miss Universe Philippines 2024 winner will work on sustaining Dee’s accomplishment, and also attempt to score the country’s fifth victory in the international pageant, following Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
‘Bloodbath’ for the MUPH crown
Fifty-three delegates from different parts of the country and overseas Filipino communities are competing in this year’s national contest. Avid pageant followers are anticipating a “bloodbath” for the crown because several accomplished and seasoned contenders are among the roster of 2024 candidates. Several rookies are also deemed formidable.
Among the notable veterans are Binibining Pilipinas alumnae Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province, Christi Lynn McGarry from Taguig City, Kris Tiffany Janson from Cebu, Stacey Gabriel from Cainta, and Selena Antonio-Reyes from Pasig City. Cyrille Payumo from Pampanga and Alexandra Mae Rosales from Laguna, meanwhile, have already brought home international titles.
Victoria Velasquez Vincent from Bacoor City is also staging a comeback after being crowned Miss Universe Philippines-Charity in the 2021 contest which was won by Beatrice Luigi Gomez, who finished in the Top 5 of the 70th Miss Universe pageant.
National pageant newbies Alexie Mae Brooks from Iloilo City, Tarah Valencia from Baguio City, and Kayla Jean Carter from the Filipino community in Northern California have also been noticed by pageant aficionados.
The 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant is the fifth edition of the standalone national search for the country’s Miss Universe delegate. The winner will represent the Philippines in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year, and try to succeed reigning queen Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua.