Gloria Diaz tells Michelle Dee to pretend bashers ‘don’t exist’ amid backlash after her MUPh 2023 win

Gloria Diaz advised Michelle Dee to just do her best and pretend that bashers “don’t exist” as the latter continues to face backlash over her Miss Universe Philippines 2023 win. 

In an interview on GMA Network’s 24 Oras, Diaz recalled how people also claimed the contest was rigged when she took home the crown for Miss Universe Philippines in 1969. When I won Miss Philippines, they said it was ‘lutong Macau,’ and one or two people etcetera, pero I didn’t even know what ‘lutong Macau’ means.” 

“And then afterwards, after I won Miss Universe, nag-faint nga sila eh,” she said. 

“Ang puno, nagbubunga, syempre, babatuhin nila ‘yan. But just do your best, enjoy, and just pretend they don’t exist,” she added, referring to the MUPh 2023 titleholder.

Michelle clinched the highly coveted Miss Universe Philippines 2023 crown during the May 13 coronation night at Pasay's Mall of Asia Arena.

She has been facing backlash since her feat at the recently concluded pageant, which was faced with technical difficulties that scrapped the Top 10 and made some viewers call it a “cooking show.” 

In the May 16 episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the beauty queen talked about the criticism she’s been facing since her win. While she acknowledged that bashing is "inevitable," she stressed the importance of choosing kindness no matter what.

“It's honestly inevitable because fans come there supporting their bets, they come in there thinking that the rage or their anger can change results, but it can't,” she said. 

“So, if ever we're in a position to make changes, let's just choose to be kind and spread love. That's what I always tell my fans, be kind and always spread love,” she added.