Michelle Dee, a standout contender in the Miss Universe 2023 preliminaries, captured attention with her spectacular evening gown performance. Her gown, an exquisite creation by the renowned Filipino fashion designer Mark Bumgarner, was not just a piece of high fashion but also a touching tribute to her mother, Melanie Marquez, a Filipina icon and Miss International 1979 winner. The emerald green gown, adorned with over 30,000 Swarovski crystals in shades of green and black, was designed to shimmer like a green viper, symbolizing wisdom, power, and transformation. Its modern cutouts, cinched waist, high neckline, power shoulders, and column silhouette gave it an air of elegance and sophistication.
Mark Bumgarner expressed his admiration for Michelle’s performance in a heartfelt message, thanking her for a powerful performance and conveying excitement for her participation in the finals. Michelle Dee, the winner of Miss Universe Philippines 2023, represented the Philippines at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador. Her performance in the swimsuit competition, wearing a sparkling red one-piece swimwear, was also highly praised. The Miss Universe Philippines organization shared clips and videos of her performances, showcasing her talent and grace in the pageant.