Melanie Marquez advised daughter Michelle to manifest 'crown on your head' before MUPH 2023 win
Apart from her beauty, brains, and years-long pageant training, Michelle Dee was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023 because she predicted her future by manifesting.
The 28-year-old beauty queen did so as it was advised to her by her "lucky charm"—her mother and former beauty queen Melanie Marquez.
Speaking to PEP.ph prior to the coronation night held on May 13, the former beauty queen said that she advised her daughter to manifest her dream of becoming the MUPH 2023 titleholder, as she did likewise when she won Miss International in 1979.
"Sabi ko ‘Be yourself and always claim the crown on top of your head as you walk down the stage.’ Claim it para panalo ka na dapat," Melanie recalled.
Apart from this, the 58-year-old mom advised her daughter "to thank God all the time for all the blessings you are receiving."
She also expressed her confidence in her daughter by saying, "I'm sure she will bring honor to the country."
Michelle has likewise been vocal about her love and admiration for her mother. In fact, she said in a recent interview with GMA's 24 Oras that her evening gown walk in last Saturday's competition was a tribute to her mom's iconic "S walk."
The newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines said that she really wanted to "do something special" for her mom, as Melanie took the time to watch her compete after being absent last year because she was recovering from an accident.
"I really wanted to do something special. We paid tribute to her S Walk, her famous supermodel poses," Michelle said.
"But syempre kasi since I'm the one on stage, we wanted to make sure that my personality shined as well. Kaya ayun, you'll see a lot of me but a lot of Melanie Marquez as well," she added.
On that night, Michelle bagged the coveted crown after besting 37 other beauty queens from all over the country. It was a full-circle moment for the pageant veteran, who won first runner-up in last year's MUPH pageant and Miss World Philippines in 2019.
She was joined by her mother Melanie, as well as sister Maxine and brothers Mazeen and Adam, on stage after she received her crown.
Michelle is now set to represent the country in the global Miss Universe pageant happening later this year.