Michelle Dee was a captivating sight during the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2023 grand coronation night held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 (November 19 in the Philippines).
She graced the stage in a custom-made black gown by Mark Bumgarner.
In previous interviews, Michelle mentioned that her gown was inspired by a Filipino icon.
In an Instagram post uploaded by her team, the icon turns out to be 106-year-old indigenous tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od.
She wrote, "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.
"A true icon and the last of her kind, a symbol of bravery, beauty, and inclusivity… Whang Od.
"This evening gown draws inspiration from the icon, with every stitch crafted passionately and proudly dedicated to our country. It is a creation by my friend and designer of dreams, @markbumgarner."
Before this, Michelle picked an emerald green gown for the preliminary competition, paying tribute to her beauty-queen mother, Melanie Marquez, and cousin Winwyn Marquez.
Both ladies secured victories in green gowns.
Melanie was cronwed Miss International 1979 and Winwyn won as Reina Hispanoamericana 2017.
Read: Green gown at buwan ng November, maghatid din kaya ng suwerte kay Michelle Marquez Dee?
The color choice also serves as a nod to Michelle's advocacy, autism awareness, as green is the official color associated with the cause.
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