Michelle Dee

Michelle Daniela Marquez Dee (born April 24, 1995) is a Filipino actress, model, TV host and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2023 competition in El Salvador where she was placed in the Top 10 and also won four special awards.

Dee previously won Miss World Philippines 2019. She represented the Philippines at the Miss World 2019 pageant in London, England where she finished in the top 12, Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica won the pageant.

Early life and education
Michelle Daniela Marquez Dee was born in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines on April 24, 1995, to businessman, film producer, and former actor Frederick "Derek" Dee, and to actress, author, former supermodel, and beauty queen Melanie Marquez, who won Miss International 1979.

Her paternal grand-uncle was the Philippines's Chinabank founder Dee C. Chuan and her paternal grandmother, heiress and philanthropist Regina Y. Dee, was the daughter of Yu Hung-chun, who served as premier of Taiwan. Former PBA player Joey Marquez is her maternal uncle. Dee's maternal cousin and Joey's daughter is an actress and fellow beauty queen Winwyn Marquez, who won Reina Hispanoamericana in 2017.

Dee has one sister, Maxine Dee, and four maternal half-siblings - Manuelito, the son of Filipino actor and politician Lito Lapid, Mazen, now 33, was diagnosed with autism, the son of her mother with Arab sheik partner, and Abraham and Adam, who was diagnosed with "delay syndrome, sons of her mother with husband Adam Lawyer, She spent a considerable time of her childhood in their family ranch in Utah, United States during summers and family vacations. Dee grew up loving farm animals and enjoying the countryside, both in Utah and in her family's hacienda in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the Philippines.

She attended the De La Salle University in Manila and graduated with a degree in psychology. In 2021, Dee completed her certificate program in entrepreneurship essentials from the Harvard Business School.

Miss World Philippines 2019
On September 15, 2019, Dee was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. The finals night comprised competitions in swimwear, evening gown, and two question and answer rounds. She competed with and won over thirty-nine other delegates, and was crowned by outgoing Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina Sonja Rodriguez by the end of the event. During the competition, Dee won six special awards: Miss Sportswoman by Fila, Miss GCOX, Miss Best Skin by Cathy Valencia, Miss Bench, Miss Myra E, and Miss Bluewater Day Spa. In the semifinal question and answer round, host Laura Lehmann asked Dee about the lessons and pieces of advice her mother, model and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, gave her in her preparations for her first-ever beauty pageant competition. Dee replied: "The most important advice my mom gave me was to be myself. I'm not here trying to replicate her, but I'm trying to shine as my own woman. In doing so I've learned how to be strong, how to be confident in myself, and to embrace every single part of my being. So thank you, Mom, and thank you to everyone who came tonight and for supporting me. It means a lot to me."

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."

Miss World 2019
As Miss World Philippines 2019, Dee represented the Philippines in the Miss World 2019 competition at ExCel in London, England on December 14, 2019. During the preliminaries, Dee won both rounds of her group's head-to-head challenge, reaching the top 40. She was also placed in the top 40 of the top model competition, and top 20 in Beauty With A Purpose. During the finals night, Dee was placed in the top 40, and eventually the top 12.

Miss Universe Philippines 2022
On April 6, 2022, she was announced as an official candidate for the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 pageant. At the end of coronation night, she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022, second to the eventual winner, Celeste Cortesi.

Miss Universe Philippines 2023
On May 13, 2023, Dee won Miss Universe Philippines 2023. She also won Miss Aqua Boracay, Miss Pond's, Miss Zion Philippines, and the best in evening gown award. There were two question-and-answer rounds during the finals. In the first round, Dee was asked: “Income inequality is still high in the Philippines. The gap between the rich and the poor remains. How do we close the gap?” She responded:

"I think first, we have to recognize what we have and the privileges that we have such as food, education, and homes. I think the best way to address this is through education because education holds no status quo. Every Filipino child has the right to an education, but not just any education, but quality education. Because I believe if the government can provide this to every Filipino child, we can not only elevate their quality of life, but we can empower them as well."

In the second and final question and answer round, she was asked: "The Department of Tourism has adopted a new branding campaign [sic]: 'We Give the World Our Best.' For you, what is the best that we could offer to the rest of the world? Why do you consider it so?" Dee answered:

"The Philippines is home to very beautiful natural resources, from the beaches to the mountains, but I firmly believe that the best natural resource that the Philippines has is us Filipinos. We are the true heart and soul of the Philippines, with the way we are hospitable, with the warm smiles, and we are the reason the world keeps coming back for more. No matter where the universe takes me, I will always be proud to call the Philippines my home, and no matter what happens, I will always be proud to call myself Pinoy."

At the end of the competition, she was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi as Miss Universe Philippines 2023. Dee represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2023 competition in El Salvador.

Miss Universe 2023
Dee represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2023 held at El Salvador where she was placed as Top 10 finalist. She was also awarded with four special awards; Spirit of Carnival Award, Best in National Costume, Fan Vote Winner, and Voice for Change Gold Winner, making her the most awarded candidate in the pageants history.

Causes and philanthropy
Dee has been an advocate for autism awareness and mental health education since she was sixteen years old. She has been working with the Center for Possibilities Incorporation, 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 younger people, and creating more awareness about autism and mental health. After winning Miss World Philippines 2019, Dee donated part of her prize money to individuals on the autism spectrum who are in need of therapy.

Dee also works with the Autism Society Philippines in bringing attention to the needs of individuals who are on the autism spectrum and their families, and improving access to intervention facilities and services, especially for those in the provincial areas. She supports autism advocacy programs on art, hippotherapy, and inclusive employment for those on the autism spectrum. She became the Goodwill Ambassador for the Autism Society Philippines in January 2020. With her father, Dee also campaigns for hepatitis awareness and for a hepatitis C-free society, under their own family initiative, HepCured. Dee is also an advocate for LGBT rights in the Philippines. On May 30, 2024, Dee, for the first time explained why she earlier remained closeted due to venomous bashing. “I myself didn't actually plan to come out,” she lamented in an Instagram reel. Dee is now the Philippines' second bisexual Miss Universe Philippines after Beatrice Gomez. As an LGBT pride advocate, Dee aptly posted a message for everyone in the upcoming Pride Month: “come as they are.”

In 2024, Dee has been named Chinabank's newest ambassador.

Modeling career
Dee's began modeling with the Bench clothing brand in 2016. She signed with Click Model Management in New York, after being scouted during a Bench photoshoot.

Personal life
In May 2023, Dee came out as bisexual in an interview with Mega Magazine. She currently lives with actress and model Rhian Ramos.

On May 1, 2024, Dee got her arm tattooed by Whang-od with her three dots signature. Then, she playfully “crowned” Apo Whang Od, "beauty queen", while the latter signed Michelle’s tattoo-inspired Mark Bumgarner long black gown sketch inspired by her. Dee bestowed upon Whang-od a jersey with text “Filipinas 2023” in front, and “MMD” printed in the back.