Michelle Marquez Dee. Image from her Instagram.
After debuting on the New York Fashion Week runway, and walking for world-class Filipino designer Michael Cinco in Paris Fashion Week, 2023 Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Marquez Dee‘s next target is Los Angeles.
One Management, a modeling agency with outposts in several major global locations where the beauty queen-model-actress had signed up with, deployed her to New York Fashion Week for her first international assignment.
The agency will next bring Dee to Los Angeles to explore job opportunities for her in California and United States’ West Coast, after her recent stint in Paris Fashion Week, where she also attended more than a dozen shows as fashion correspondent for Vogue Philippines.
“Update: Very exciting news. A lot of exciting projects are coming up after Paris. I have to schedule an LA trip,” Dee shared with the media who witnessed the turnover of her Miss Universe “Voice for Change” prize worth P684,000 to Autism Society Philippine during the group’s “Artismo” event held at Alta Roca in Antipolo City late last month before she flew to France.
When INQUIRER.net asked how she found modeling abroad, she said, “I would say New York is very fast-paced. Because, of course, when you get to New York, when you’re signed in New York, it’s the fashion capital of the world. I mean, we have Paris as well, but it’s one of them.”
Dee continued: “When you’re International, the expectations are higher, the pressure is higher. But I’m very glad that I have the right people mentoring me and guiding me along the way.”
She, however, still found a common thread. “It’s very the same. I mean, industries work the same, where, when you’re new you have to get around, you have to know the right people,” Dee explained.
But Manila will still be home for her. “I have amazing opportunities abroad, but the Philippines will always be home-base for me. You just have to make appearances here and there in different countries, but again, it all always circles back to home,” she said.
Dee also clarified that she continues to be managed by her Philippine agency. “Sparkle GMA, in itself, has been most supportive in terms of my career. Everything that is a good opportunity, they really let me spread my wings and fly,” she said.
Modeling is in Dee’s genes. Not only is her mother Melanie Marquez a beauty queen like she is; the 1979 Miss International titleholder was also first runner-up in the 1986 Supermodel of the World contest.