Hindi napigilang maging emosyunal ni Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee nang aminin ang kanyang pagkadismaya at pagkalungkot sa hindi niya pagpasok sa Top 5 ng Miss Universe 2023.
Read: PH bet Michelle Dee fails to enter Top 5 of Miss Universe 2023
Ginanap ang 72nd edition ng international beauty pageant sa El Salvador noong November 19, 2023 (Philippine time), kunsaan si Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios ang kinoronahang Miss Universe 2023.
Ang pambato ng Pilipinas na si Michelle ay nakaabot lamang hanggang sa Top 10.
Read: Michelle Dee on Top 10 Miss Universe 2023 finish: “Sayang, hindi ako nakahawak ng mic.”
Sa panayam ni Michelle sa 24 Oras nitong Lunes, November 27, 2023, inamin niyang nalungkot siya sa maagang pagtatapos ng kanyang laban sa Miss Universe 2023 pagkatapos ng ilang buwang paghahanda para rito.
Naluluha niyang saad sa GMA-7 reporter na si Nelson Canlas, "Sayang lang that hindi ko lang natapos.
"Sayang lang kasi I knew if nakahawak ako ng mic, I knew I would have given a smashing answer."
Sundot na tanong ni Nelson, "Kung ikaw ba yung tatanungin, sa tingin mo sapat yung Top 10 ka lang?"
Mabilis na sagot ni Michelle: "I want to accept whatever reality is, you know, given to me.
"My goal was really to give 200 percent of myself and to make sure that the Filipinos know that as well.
"Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang babaguhin ko to ensure na makapasok tayo or to give us the best chance. But again, it wasn't our destiny."
Nagpadagdag pa raw sa emosyon ni Michelle nang kumalat sa social media ang post sa Instagram ng Miss Universe El Salvador kung saan naroon ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng kanilang Top 5 imbes na si Miss Universe Thailand Anntonia Porsild.
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Aniya, "Admitedly, dumiretso ako sa banyo at medyo naiyak talaga ako.
"I knew we had to go back on stage kasi, you know, we're sportsmen like that.
"Pero ayun nga, medyo naiyak talaga ako out of frustration.
"I went back to my cubicle and that's when I saw the screenshot na parang medyo nakakagulo sa utak na parang, 'What is this?'"
Read: Miss Universe 2023 1st runner-up Anntonia Porsild reacts to Michelle Dee's non-inclusion in Top 5
Pagkakamali man o hindi, naniniwala si Michelle na may rason ang lahat kaya ito nangyari.
Sabi niya, "Essentially, we don't live in a perfect world. Things happen for a reason, whether it was intentional or not.
"Everything that has happened, happens for a reason."
Read: Michelle Dee answers Miss Universe 2023 Top 3 question
Hindi man naiuwi ni Michelle ang ikalima sanang Miss Universe crown para sa Pilipinas, malaki ang kanyang pasasalamat na nakapasok siya sa Top 10 at nairampa ang kanyang emerald green custom gown at Apo Whang-Od-inspired gown.
Read: Green gown at buwan ng November, maghatid din kaya ng suwerte kay Michelle Marquez Dee?
Pagbabahagi niya, "I only flew with two perfect gowns, I had no backup gowns.
"No backup gowns whatsoever, just two perfect gowns. Kaya hindi siya puwedeng hindi mag-work.
"Kaya thank God, I was able to show it on the Miss Universe stage."
Read: Michelle Dee honors Apo Whang-Od with Miss Universe 2023 gown
Samantala, bukod sa pagkakasama sa Top 10, si Michelle ay nagkamit din ng apat na special awards: Spirit of Carnival Award, Fan Vote Winner, Gold Winner of the Voice for Change, at Best in National Costume.
Sa lahat ng kanyang naiuwing awards, ang pinakapinagpapasalamat ni Michelle ay ang pagiging gold winner sa Voice of Change dahil nadala raw niya sa world stage ang kanyang adoboksiya tungkol sa autism spectrum.
Sabi niya, "I received thousands of messages from parents and individuals on the spectrum really thanking me. Thanking me for championing for their cause.
"It's so heartwarming because they only really need o be given the opportunity to live a fulfilled life."
Read: Miss Universe Philippines clarifies video of Michelle Dee's exit during TV guesting in Mexico