Handang-handa na ang pambato ng Pilipinas sa Miss World 2019 pageant na si Michelle Dee.
Sa November 20, inaasahang darating si Michelle at ang mahigit 100 pang kandidata mula sa iba't ibang bahagi ng mundo sa London, England para sa international beauty pageant.
Gaganapin ang grand coronation ng Miss World 2019 sa ExCeL London sa December 14.
Nitong Miyerkules, November 13, ginanap ang send-off party para kay Michelle sa Nanka restaurant.
Kumpleto halos lahat ng winners ng Miss World Philippines 2019 upang magbigay ng suporta kay Michelle sa send-off party nito.
Kabilang dito sina Miss Eco International Philippines 2019 Kelley Day, Reina HispanoAmericana Filipinas 2019 Katrina Llegado, Miss Multinational Philippines 2019 Isabelle de Leon, Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2019 Mary Daena Resurreccion, Miss Philippines Tourism 2019 Glyssa Perez, at Miss World Philippines 2019 2nd runner-up Casie Banks.
Nasorpresa rin si Michelle sa pagdating ng nakababata niyang kapatid na si Abraham Lawyer at mga malalapit na kaibigan na sina Miss Eco International 2018 Thia Thomalla, Max Collins, at Samantha Lopez.
MICHELLE DEE, A FRONTRUNNER AT MISS WORLD 2019?
Ngayon pa lang ay nagpapasalamat na si Michelle sa suportang natatanggap niya mula sa pageant fans.
Isa si Michelle sa itinuturing na frontrunners ng Miss World 2019 matapos nitong manalo bilang Miss World Philippines 2019 noong September 15.
Pahayag niya tungkol dito, "It's definitely an added boost of confidence because as soon as I won Miss World Philippines, I started entering these polls.
"I've been consistently in the top ten since I won, and that's very heartwarming kasi I'm up against 120 countries, parang Olympics na.
"So it definitely adds some confidence and I just hope to gain more momentum when I land in London, and I can't wait to meet the other girls.
"I can't wait to just gain this experience that I know would help me grow.
"Win or lose, it'll help me become a better person.
"I won't stop fighting for what I believe in just because of this.
"Tuloy pa rin ang laban for me, tuloy pa rin yung my desire to become a positive influence."
Ilan sa maiging pinaghahandaan ni Michelle sa Miss World 2019 pageant ay ang Head-to-Head at Multimedia fast-track challenges.
Ang mapipiling winners sa fast-track challenges ay automatic na mapabibilang sa semifinalists.
Saad ni Michelle, "Training is the hardest part for me, but in terms of the pageant, I am most nervous about the head-to-head challenge and the Beauty With A Purpose segment of the competition because I am bringing my advocacy to the global stage.
"And I feel, like, I have the most at stake because of that, because I really want to make a change.
"I really want to gain international attention on this issue, to help my country, to help my siblings, and everybody suffering from the same problem."
FULL SUPPORT
Bukod sa pageant fans, nagpapasalamat din si Michelle sa kanyang pamilya at mga kaibigan na buo ang suporta sa kanyang Miss World journey.
Sa katunayan, ang ilan sa mga ito ay tutungo rin sa London upang mapanood siya.
Sabi ni Michelle, "My dad, my mom, my stepdad, and my stepmom along with my brother Abraham, my sister, her boyfriend, Kelley [Day], and another friend. Actually, Ms. Joy is also flying...
"But, yes, my mom will be coming to support me and I'm very, very grateful for that."
May mangilan-ngilang payo na rin ang kanyang ina na si Melanie Marquez para kay Michelle bago ito sumabak sa beauty pageant.
Si Melanie ay nanalo bilang Miss International noong 1979.
Kuwento ni Michelle, "My mom has always believed that you should be yourself, you should be genuine, and she believes that the personality I have would be fit for the pageant.
"She really emphasizes on staying true to who you are, because then, the world will notice and give credit for that."
Kung may isang puna raw ang kanyang ina, ito ay ang kanyang pasarela o catwalk.
"In terms of other preparations naman, she has a lot of things to say about my walk, about my talent, you know, anything a mom would normally do.
"She sees the things other people normally doesn't see."
Nang tanungin kung tinutulungan din ba siya ni Melanie na mag-train sa question-and-answer segment ng pageant, natatawang sagot ni Michelle, "My mom doesn't train me with Q&A because she's always said that I'm smarter than her."
Patuloy nito, "But my mom helps me become a lighter person because I'm very serious.
"I've been told that I assume a very serious facade so tina-try niya akong i-bakla, to have more fun, so it helps with my personality enhancement."
Sa huli, taos-pusong nagpapasalamat si Michelle sa kanyang ina sa lahat ng tulong na ibinahagi nito sa kanya.
"She's been at the top of her game supporting me.
"She's done everything she can to make sure that my souvenirs are in order, my wardrobes at place.
"She's been talking to countless designers to contribute to my wardrobe."
PASSPORt AND BEAUTY WITH A PURPOSE
Tinanong din ng press si Michelle kung handa na ang passport niya at ang kanyang Beauty With A Purpose (BWAP) campaign para sa Miss World pageant.
Nagkaroon ng passport problem si Samantha Lo, pambato ng Pilipinas sa Miss Grand International 2019 na ginanap sa Venezuela nitong October 25 kaya mahigit isang linggong nahuli ang kandidata sa pageant.
Na-disqualify naman ang Beauty With A Purpose (BWAP) campaign ni Katarina Rodriguez nang sumabak sa Miss World 2018 pageant dahil may ilang patakaran na hindi nasunod.
Isa ang BWAP sa segment ng Miss World na may malaking puntos.
Sagot ni Michelle, "I can assure you that all of my legal documents are in place naman and I won't run to any issues when I get to London.
"So you don't have to worry about that."
Para naman sa kanyang BWAP, magpo-focus si Michelle sa kanyang kampanya para sa autism at mental health awareness.
Panigurado nito, "My Beauty With A Purpose, I feel like it's really solid. I feel like it's time for us to take notice on the issue.
"It's something that I believe in and it's something that I've been fighting for.
"I know that there are a lot of things to improve on here in the Philippines as compared to first world countries where they really take into consideration the welfare of the individuals on this spectrum."
Dahil dito, masusing nakikipagtulungan si Michelle sa Autism Society of the Philippines at sa national director nitong si Mona Liza Veluz para sa kanyang chairty projects.
Ayon kay Michelle, ang experience ng kanyang mga kapatid ang naging inspirasyon niya upang piliin ang autism at mental health awareness para sa kanyang BWAP.
Aniya, "I have two autistic siblings—one older and one younger.
"I've mentioned this countless times in the past and I did see first-hand the kind of struggles that they went through.
"The lack of inclusivity we have here in our country, the lack of resources, the lack of law that protects them.
"It's because of them [my siblings] that it has turned into a life-long mission for me. It's not just for the pageant, it's something that I've been dealing with all of my life.
"And I know I'm not the only person with these issues."