Michelle Dee during the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 coronation night. Image: Personifi via Instagram/@michelledee
Updated, Sept. 17, 6:11 p.m.
Hours after Michelle Dee revealed that she has not received her “Voice for Change” award, the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) Organization confirmed that the delay in her plum was due to the communication process in the national tilt, and not the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).
Dee made headlines after revealing on her Instagram Broadcast on Monday, Sept. 16 that her award has not been released yet, despite being recognized by the global tilt for her autism awareness advocacy.
On its Instagram page on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the MUPH organization apparently followed up with the beauty queen-actress’ statement, saying she will be present at the ASP to be recognized for her feat. It also announced that she would present her plum to the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) within the week.
“We are excited that this week Michelle Marquez Dee will go to the Autism Society of the Philippines to present her Voice for Change award. Even after her Miss Universe stint, MMD remains a staunch ally of her advocacy. A sign of her solid commitment to advance her causes. A real queen, indeed,” it said.
The national pageant’s organization added that its administrative and accounting personnel have resolved the matter, as of press time.
“The admin [and] accounting personnel assigned have resolved which account to deposit the prize to. Thank you, Michelle, and ASP for giving voice to — and a bigger platform — for such a worthy cause.”
In its statement, MUPH also thanked the Miss Universe Organization for using its platform to recognize women who promote its objective of women empowerment.
“Thank you to the Miss Universe Organization for amplifying the voices of women around the world. This clearly demonstrates that MUO practices what it preaches on the cause of Women Empowerment,” it said.
The Facebook page of the MUPH also updated its post hours later, saying the delay was due to a lapse in the communication process of the national tilt — not because of the MUO itself.
Image: Screengrab from Facebook/Miss Universe Philippines
The Miss Universe Organization, co-owned by Thai business mogul Anne Jakrajutatip and Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, has yet to address the matter, as of press time.
Dee, for her part, has yet to speak up about the MUPh organization’s statement as well.
The beauty queen-actress ended her Miss Universe 2023 stint in the Top 10. She passed her Miss Universe Philippines crown to her successor, Bulacan’s Chelsea Manalo in May 2024.