Miss Universe Fans Are Now Even More Confused After Michelle Dee's National Costume Win
They are letting their thoughts be known.
(SPOT.ph) Five days after the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, a new development has left fans in, erm, confusion, to say the least. Philippine representative Michelle Dee won Best in National Costume, announced the pageant body on Friday, November 24—leading people online to having more thoughts, especially about Dee not placing in the Top 5 during the main competition hosted in El Salvador on November 18.
The Miss Universe Organization posted on their official Instagram the video announcement confirming that Dee won the popular vote for Best National Costume, along with the caption:
“And the National Costume Winner is… Michelle Dee! Chosen by the fans on our official Miss Universe app, Philippines is taking home the costume vote for this incredible outfit!”
Alongside the announcement, the account also highlighted the spiel read when Dee showcased her outfit during the National Costume Show last November 17:
“It’s a bird, it’s a plane...it’s Philippines! Crowned with a captain’s hat, this costume is a salute to the delegate’s role as an Air Force reservist. The look is representative of her country – resilient and radiant. There’s no denying, she’s the queen of flying ... in the PHILIPPINES.”
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Internet reacts to Michelle Dee Best National Costume win in Miss Universe
The announcement, which has garnered over 150 thousand likes and over six and a half thousand comments in its first 15 hours, has brought about more discourse as to why Dee only placed within the Top 10, despite also nabbing three other awards; the Voice for Change Gold Award, the Spirit of the Carnival Award, and was also the Fan Vote winner.
Adding to this, the win follows an apology from the Miss Universe El Salvador Instagram account for incorrectly announcing Dee as part of the Top 5 line-up, alongside Miss Universe 2023 winner Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua and the contestants from Australia, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. The post, which came up on coronation night and was swiftly removed, swapped Dee with the first runner-up Anntonia Prosild of Thailand.
This has led to many voicing out how they feel Dee was robbed of a Top 5 spot, with the National Costume win feeling more like a reactionary consolation prize—especially since it wasn’t even the best outfit that Dee wore while competing. Meanwhile, others pointed out that this is a win based on popular vote by fans, after all. And as we all know, pageant fans are abound in the Philippines.
Also read: Miss Universe Wanted a 'Transformational Woman.' So Why Didn't It Want Michelle Dee?
Michelle Dee reacts to Miss Universe National Costume win
Amid all the clamor, Dee has only shared her pride over the winning National Costume, posting on Instagram via the broadcast channel and later posting on her stories:
“Best in National Costume?! Truly believe that WE deserve this award (...amongst other things) So much hard work was put into this costume! Incredibly happy for my designer @barassimichael too! Just proves that we came PREPARED.”