After winning Miss Tourism in last year’s edition, Michelle Dee finally nabbed the Miss Universe Philippines title on Saturday, May 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Michelle succeeds Celeste Cortesi, who passed the crown to her with Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel placing the sash.

The 28-year-old actress and entrepreneur is no stranger to the pageant world. She first competed as Miss World Philippines in 2019 and placed in the Top 12 of the Miss World that year in London.

In addition, she comes from a bloodline of titleholders. Michelle’s mom Melanie Marquez was Miss International in 1979 while her cousin, actress Winwyn Marquez became the first Filipina to win Reina Hispanoamericana 2017.

Michelle will represent the country in El Salvador this December and try to place once again after the Philippines did not enter the semifinals for the first time in 12 years.