Michelle Dee hopes successor Chelsea Manalo will ‘lead by example’

Check out these Miss Universe Philippines 2024 highlights!

(From left) Chelsea Manalo and Michelle Dee. Image: Instagram/@michelledee

Michelle Dee expressed her support to her successor, Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo, as she advised the latter to “lead by example” throughout her reign.

Dee took to her Instagram page on Friday, May 24 to congratulate Manalo on her Miss Universe Philippines win, saying she passed her crown to someone with “such a genuine heart.”

May you lead by example always in all ways,” she wrote. “Congratulations to our new Miss Universe Philippines 2024 @manalochelsea. We had a brief interaction backstage and I can really say that we crowned a woman with such a genuine heart.”

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The actress-beauty queen said the crown “looks so good” on Manalo despite her “initial hiccup” on how she plopped it on the latter’s head.

“Manifesting only the best for you and our home… Despite my little initial hiccup, the @jewelmer crown looks so good on you,” she said.

The reigning titleholder thanked Dee in the comments, hoping to “see her soon.”

Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@michelledee

Manalo was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2024 during the coronation that started on the night of May 22 and ended early morning of May 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Other queens were also crowned by the national pageant’s sister title The Miss Philippines, namely, Tarah Valencia (Miss Supranational Philippines), Ahtisa Manalo (Miss Cosmo Philippines), Cyrille Payumo (Miss Charm Philippines), and Alexie Brooks (Miss Eco International Philippines).

Before passing her title, Dee was celebrated by the pageant community throughout her reign after her Top 10 finish at Miss Universe 2023 and winning four special awards at the global tilt.

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