(From left) Michelle Dee and Melanie Marquez. Image: Instagram/@michelledee
With or without the crown, Melanie Marquez is proud of her daughter Michelle Dee for “surpassing expectations” when she represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
The Miss International 1979 titleholder sang praises for Dee at the “EXpecially For You” segment of the ABS-CBN-produced noontime show “It’s Showtime” which aired its first episode on GMA on Saturday, April 6.
“Sa totoo lang, nilampasan [ni Michelle Dee] ‘yung expectations ko sa kanya. Tuwang-tuwa naman ako (To be honest, Michelle Dee surpassed all of my expectations. I’m very happy,” Marquez said when asked about her daughter’s Miss Universe stint.
Marquez also clarified that she didn’t assist Dee in her training, saying she had faith in her daughter’s abilities.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Anak, para sa Pilipinas. Kailangan meron kang markang iiwanan sa aming lahat,’” she said. “Hinayaan ko siyang matuto nang sarili niya at kung sino man mga trainer niya. Basta ako, nagbibigay lang ng tips.”
(I told her, “My daughter, this is for the Philippines. You must leave a mark.” I allowed her to learn on her own and from her trainers. I just gave tips.)
Dee said that while Marquez told her to focus on winning the crown, her mother pointed out that bringing pride to the country is what mattered the most.
“Mom always said, ‘Siyempre, ‘yung goal natin ay korona. Pero ang dapat mong pusuin mo talaga is to make Filipinos proud,’” she added.
(Mom always said, “Of course, our goal is to win the crown. But you must focus on making Filipinos proud.)
Dee ended her Miss Universe 2023 run at the Top 10. She brought home four special awards: Best in National Costume, Spirit of Carnival, Fan Vote Winner, and Voice for Change gold award. She lost the crown to Sheynnis Palacios, the first Nicaraguan to win the Miss Universe crown.
Dee is set to crown her successor at the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant on May 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.