Miss Universe Philippines 2022, the 3rd edition of the national pageant, will be held in April 2022 where Beatrice Luigi Gomez Miss Universe Philippines 2021 will crown her successor at the end of the event finale.
While the list of delegates is yet to be revealed, there are a few rumoured candidates who might be joining the 2022 edition. Michelle Marquez Dee is one such crossover beauty who is being vetted by everyone to join Miss Universe Philippines 2022. Here are the reasons why this crossover is much needed.
Introduction
An actress, athlete and model, Michelle is the daughter of supermodel and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez. She attended the De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines and graduated with a degree in psychology. The stunning beauty is also an LGBTQIA+ rights advocate and speaks for autism awareness.
Advocacy – Autism Awareness
Dee has been an advocate for autism awareness and mental health education since she was sixteen years old as she grew up with two of her siblings who were diagnosed with autism. She has been working with the Center for Possibilities, Inc., a foundation that helps and cares for children with special needs and other organizations in spreading more information on autism. She also assists those who have developmental disability and creating more awareness about autism and mental health.
Pageantry crossover
On 15th September 2019, Dee was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. In the final question and answer round, Dee was asked which invention from the last century she would love to make a comeback. She answered,"It would probably be polaroid films. I'm an avid lover of art. I love photography and I love the kind of energy and feel that polaroids give me; just being able to lay everything out and go down memory lane is such a different feeling. Polaroids give me such a vibrant and positive energy."
As the representative of Philippines at Miss World 2019, Dee competed at the international pageant held at the ExCel Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom on 14th December 2019. She ultimately placed in Top 12 at the end of the event finale.
Film and Television work
Through the years, Dee has starred in movies like Because I Love You where she played Gianna (2019) and G! LU in the same year. In television, she starred in ‘I Left My Heart in Sorsogon’ where she played Hazelyn ‘Hazel’ Pangan (2021), Agimat ng Agila where she played Serpenta (2021), One of the Baes where she played young Alona Aragoza (2019), Love You Two where she played Michaela "Mochi" Isidro (2019), Glow Up which she hosted in 2019 and Celebrity Bluff where she was the celebrity guest (2018).
With her experience in the entertainment industry, her strong advocacy and her stunning beauty, Dee will definitely be a strong contender for the national crown if she decides to participate at Miss Universe Philippines 2022.