Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios reunites with Michelle Dee

Reiging Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios (center) with Michelle Dee (second from left) and Miss Universe Philippines officials (from left) Jonas Gaffud, Paolo Arevalo, and Shamcey Supsup-Lee/ARMIN P. ADINA

Reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios came to the Philippines on May 1, but it was only on her sixth day in the country that she was able to reunite with her Filipino pageant batch mate Michelle Marquez Dee.

The reunion took place at the sponsors night of the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant at a hotel in Manila on May 6.

Dee, who finished in the Top 10 of the international competition, said she would have wanted to see Palacios earlier, but several commitments had prevented it from happening.

“Sheynnis has been one of my closest friends in El Salvador. It was really so nice, because backstage I was teaching her Tagalog. In El Salvador she was teaching me how to speak Spanish. So I taught her a few words here to say during her speech,” Dee told members of the media at the sidelines of the event.

“It’s just so nice because during our competition you don’t really get to connect with all girls, but Sheynnis was one of those people I was able to connect with,” the reigning Miss Universe Philippines continued.

Dee said that she and Palacios even performed lip exercises together before they went to the closed-door interview during Miss Universe. They were a pair when they entered the room.

“It’s nice to have people that really have your back, and not try to sabotage you or anything. And I’m so proud of her, I ‘m so happy that she finally felt the warm hospitality of the Philippines,” Dee said.

She also told INQUIRER.net that she was not surprised that Palacios had been overcome by emotions at the warm welcome she received from the Filipino people.

“Honestly I didn’t expect anything less, the Filipinos are one of the warmest and hospitable people around the world, with the best food. So I was happy she was able to experience that, especially with her situation now,” Dee said.

“A lot of Filipinos feel for her situation, and they just wanna make her feel at home, and she deserves her title, which she does. So I’m just happy that we’re here,” Dee explained, pertaining to the Ortega administration of Nicaragua preventing the global beauty, alleged to be his critic, from coming home after becoming the first Miss Universe winner from the country.

Dee said she is looking forward to Palacios returning to the Philippines. “She definitely loves Pinoy food, and I’m just excited for the comeback, and really just experience the beaches, everything else that the Philippines is proud of,” the Filipino queen shared.