A volleyball star turned beauty queen; Michele Gumabao who was adjudged as the second-runner up at the grand finale of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 which was held on 25th October 2020 where Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo city was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 decided to speak up and share her story. She decided to speak up because there were a lot of rumors circling around the pageant world after she was missing from the photo of the top five finalists of Miss Universe Philippines 2020.

Michele shared a video on her YouTube channel explaining her journey during the pageant. She has addressed the rumors that were circulating around the five finalists of Miss Universe Philippines 2020. She mentioned that she has always used her voice for others and empower them but now she has felt the need to address the issue as the past couple of days have been hard. Michele stated that she had her doubts of speaking up and explaining or even addressing the rumors but she has decided to take her own advice as she wants to take a stand for her story.

Michele mentioned that there have been a lot of people who are trying to pull her down by taking her name in things that she didn’t say or is related to her so, she had to take up a form of sharing her story because she feels that she owes it to herself. “This my truth and my story,” she added. The diva added that days leading up the pageant, she had her team at her house because firstly, they were not allowed to go out and secondly, she had a lot of prepare and learn for the competition and thus decided to stay with her team and focus on learning things like hair, makeup, question and answer etc., because the divas were supposed to be independent at the competition. Michele mentioned that while she was preparing for the pageant, she almost never paid attention towards how exhausted and tired she was as she was continuously preparing for the pageant and working with brands whom she had to work in future with that the entire process was over-whelming for her.

The diva explained that three days before the pageant when the divas were asked to check in, she had cut her head, broken her toe, sprained her ankle because she had passed out when she woke up. Things kept moving as the competition kept going and it was getting hard for her to keep up with the emotions and feelings, she was going through during that time like the hectic schedules made them not being on time to eat, sleep or anything.

The diva later explained that the things she heard at the morning of 25th October 2020 were hurtful that she went back to her room and cried. She was devasted and wanted to go back home to her family. She almost wanted to leave the competition because everything kept rushing back to her but, her family asked her to pray and think about it before taking a decision and she followed their advice. She prayed and slept on it and woke up to a fellow contestant asking her what’s her purpose which made Michele realize that she was there for a reason and she had to stick to it. She performed exceptionally well that night and was adjudged as the second-runner-up at the end of the event finale. The diva did not further detail what she heard and caused her “devastation.”

“I knew that not so long, we would crown the winner and everything will be over, and I would be able to go home. I went down, and for one last time, I told myself to smile for the show, for the cameras,” she said. The diva added that the news of the winner had already leaked online and the pageant’s host had disclosed that five different candidates were filmed wearing the crown when they taped the coronation night.

Michele stated, “At that moment, I just realized that for nine months, I kept putting this journey first, I kept putting this organization first. And it was my time to put myself first. And I did.” Michele also clarified that the organization was aware of her leaving early and had supported her in the matter and she had texted the winner stating the reason why she was leaving. Michele admitted being sad because no one defended her when the news of her missing from the photo of top five candidates started circling. “When people were making issues about me leaving and not being part of that photo, the organization knew why, they knew my reasons, they knew I left but they never said anything. They kept quiet,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe that people are capable of such things, that we’re in this beauty pageant joining because of our dreams, because we want to empower people, but it’s so toxic. The industry, the fans, the bashers, the criticism, everything is just so toxic, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Gumabao said.

Michele lastly added that we should all stop bashing and spreading lies and negativity because no one gives us the right to bring he other people down even though we are free to speak our hearts out. We are so proud of Michele that she decided to speak her truth and clarify the rumors going around since the finale of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 was broadcasted.