Michelle Marquez Dee was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019 on 15th September 2019, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. She was crowned by outgoing Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina Sonja Rodriguez by the end of the event. During the competition, Dee was conferred six (6) special awards: Miss Sportswoman by FILA, Miss GCOX, Miss Best Skin by Cathy Valencia, Miss BENCH/, Miss Myra E, and Miss Bluewater Day Spa. She is the official representative of Philippines in Miss World 2019.
The gorgeous diva is a Filipino actress, athlete, model and TV presenter. She is a daughter of businessman Frederick Derek Dee and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez. She attended the De La Salle University in Manila and graduated with a degree in psychology. Dee is an internationally signed model and an avid fan of photography. In her free time, she takes polaroid photos and rides her big bike. Dee is also an LGBTQIA+ rights advocate and champions autism awareness.
The diva talked about her advocacy and how she took this pledge to help kids with the special needs. She started it by saying, “My pledge to help kids with special needs: I need everyone to listen. I need everyone to feel how important this is. These kids need the world to understand and imagine how great this world could be if it did.” Growing up with two autistic siblings was a far cry from ‘normal’ for the diva. As described by the diva herself, each day was a struggle and every single day, there was a constant battle that took place in her head between what was normal and what was normal for the world. “I think about them all the time. Their future. Their well-being. I just want them to be okay”, says the diva. The diva feels heartbroken by seeing how mistreated and misunderstood these kids could get and it really makes her question the cruelty in this world. “What did they ever do to deserve all this judgement?”, was an ultimate question which revolved around her. The diva believes that, if only people really would have understood how special these kids are, how talented, how sweet, it would be a much better place. The diva says that the world needs to stop forcing a certain reality and start asking the right question. Simple questions like, ‘how can I help?’, ‘how can I understand?’. She worked and spent her time with Centre for Possibilities SPED Centre, Sagada to help the family of kids with autism. She further said, “I am just grateful to be part of this foundation; I am so proud to be part of this family that’s dedicated so much effort into helping kids with special needs. It’s not enough for me to just sit by and hope things will get better for them. We need more people to ask better questions. We need more people to understand. But one day, I know we’ll get there. Look at the smiles on their faces and just imagine; Imagine a world that understands.”
Growing up with two of her siblings diagnosed with autism, Dee has been an advocate for autism awareness and mental health education since she was sixteen (16) years old. This family circumstance is also one of the reasons why she decided to take up psychology at university. 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, assisting those who have the developmental disability—especially the youngsters—and creating more awareness about autism and mental health. In an interview after winning the Miss World Philippines 2019 competition, Dee revealed she is donating part of her prizes to patients of autism who are in need of medical care and other relevant assistance.
It’s really overwhelming to see how the world is in need to understand that the people with special needs also exists and the way it is our responsibility to stand with them, to feel their presence and comfort them with our love and affection. We are so delighted to present Michelle Dee with her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project this year.
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