Days after ending her Miss Universe 2023 journey with a top 10 finish, Michelle Dee looked back on her performance in the pageant in the latest episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. Apart from discussing her buzz-worthy evening gown and her swimsuit parasela, she also got the chance to answer the final question in the competition.
The show's host Boy Abunda requested for her to answer the same query that Nicaragua, Thailand, and Australia faced during the final Q&A round. He asked, "If you could live one year in another woman's shoes, who would you choose and and why?" Given only 45 seconds to respond, Michelle immediately took a crack at the question without even pausing to think.
"If I could choose to live in any woman's shoes, it would be Apo Whang-Od," she said. "She's an amazing symbolism of cultural preservation, she's an amazing symbolism of ageism. She has been defying boundaries [and] stereotypes, and that is something that I have tried to inspire everybody around me as well, which is to own your unique story, own your traditions, love where you came from, love who you're with [and] who you're surrounded with."
Touching on her love for the Philippines, she concluded, "Truly, with that unique story, you can make your country proud. You can show the universe what your country has to offer. In my case, my love for my country can really shake the whole universe as well."
No wonder her evening gown itself drew inspiration from Apo Whang-Od! In case you haven't noticed, the black cut-out number by Mark Bumgarner actually mirrors the work of the legendary tattoo artist.
"A tribute to a legendary Filipina who has become an icon, preserving the rich cultural heritage of indigenous tattoo art. She has achieved global recognition and symbolizes timeless beauty, coinciding with Miss Universe lifting its age restrictions, championing inclusivity and challenging age stereotypes," Michelle wrote in the caption of her evening dress photos.
You can watch Michelle's full interview here:
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
