Michelle Dee. Image: Instagram/@michelledee
The moment Michelle Dee crowned Chelsea Manalo as her Miss Universe Philippines successor, she didn’t stop showing her support to the Bulacan native while keeping herself busy in her post-pageantry career.
Dee, who was breathtaking in a black-and-white Mark Bumgarner gown at the MEGA Ball last June 12, was all smiles as she praised Manalo’s personality and inner beauty in a chance interview with reporters.
“I really love Chelsea. I really love her personality. I think we crowned a genuine-hearted queen. Of course, we’ve been talking since she won. I told her if she needed any advice, I’m always here,” she said.
Dee said she’s excited about Manalo’s Miss Universe journey while adding that she will always be present for the Bulacan native “every step of the way.”
“It’s going to be such an amazing journey for her. It’s an amazing time to be Miss Universe Philippines, and it has such an amazing platform. I will be guiding her every step of the way she needs it. She’s in very good hands. I trust that [the Philippines] will be okay,” she said.
Dee shared that she had given a lot of queenly advice to Manalo since her win, but her greatest advice to the latter is to “own [her] story and know [her] purpose.”
“Own your story, know your purpose, and how we can impact everybody’s lives. That’s what [instilled] in me. That’s what kept me going,” she said. “Even if you don’t bring home the crown, as long as you achieve your purpose, that’s what’s important. That was my [goal] for the Philippines. For me, you’ll still come home feeling like a winner.”
Michelle Dee at the 2024 MEGA Ball held at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig last June 12. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
On post-pageantry career
Since passing her crown, the actress-beauty queen kept herself busy. She appeared in the GMA action series “Black Rider,” graced the cover of another lifestyle magazine, and closed a show at TernoCon, among many other pursuits.
“I always say that being busy is always good. I stress out when I’m not busy. There’s a lot to be done,” she said.
Dee shared that she believes in the beauty of “maximizing every opportunity” where life takes her, highlighting that life doesn’t stop after being the titleholder of a national title.
“There’s one life to live so you try to maximize every opportunity that’s given your way. Time is the only thing you can’t take back, control, or stop so I always just try to keep going and doing every single facet that [will make me] proud of,” she said.