Filipina beauty queen Michelle Dee made a remarkable impact at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, securing not just one but three special awards. Her achievements included winning the Voice for Change competition, receiving the Spirit of Carnival Award from pageant sponsor Carnival Cruises, and topping the Miss Universe fan vote. Dee shared her excitement and gratitude on her Instagram channel, celebrating her victory in the fan vote.
Dee’s campaign for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown was driven by a personal and passionate advocacy for autism awareness, inspired by her two siblings on the spectrum. This advocacy influenced various aspects of her participation, including the details of her national costume. Her commitment to the cause earned her a gold medal in the Voice for Change competition, alongside Miss Angola and Miss Puerto Rico.
Despite concluding her journey in the Top 10, Dee’s performance won admiration from pageant enthusiasts globally. Notably, former Miss Universe titleholders Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018) took to social media to commend her stellar performance. While Dee did not clinch the title, which went to Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, her accomplishments at the pageant, particularly her advocacy and the special awards, have been a source of pride and inspiration