Gloria Diaz thinks Michelle Dee has a good chance of entering Miss Universe 2023 Top 5
For Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Philippine bet Michelle Dee has a strong chance of earning a spot in the Top 5 of the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
In an interview on TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Nov. 17, the country's first Miss Universe said that while "the day itself will show," she thinks Michelle "stands a good chance" of making it far in the competition.
"Hindi ko pa talaga alam, the day itself will show. Hindi ko alam talaga, honestly. Ako, I always hope for our Miss Philippines to be in the Top 5. Top 5 'yan, Top 5 kasi they have to have a representative from Asia," she said. "Usually, Miss USA comes in among the Top 15 or the Top 10. And 100% we get something from South America, Central America, may blonde, siyempre mayroon ding itim, ganun 'yun. And China is a big population kung maganda siya, 100% papasok 'yan."
"This is business and luck to quote that. Hindi tayo kukuha ng kuwan na hindi mabili. Michelle is very popular," she explained.
The results of the tilt, however, would still rely on different factors—with luck being one of them. Gloria explained her point as she recalled the changes she has seen from the time she joined the prestigious pageant to how it is at present time. She also talked about Michelle's mom, Melanie Marquez, who was crowned Miss International in 1979.
"Of course, Melanie is my favorite co-beauty queen and she is, to me, the most beautiful talaga. Michelle, on a scale of 1 to 10 compared to Melanie, she is a 7, 8 in spite of siguro her leanings or whatever they call it. She has a good chance. Kasi in a beauty contest hindi naman kuwan kagandahan, katalinuhan, 100%. It's luck," she mused.
Gloria recalled not being the "prettiest" in the bunch when she won the Miss U title.
"Hindi naman ako ang pinakamaganda roon, hindi ba? I mean we all know that and I must admit that, but during my time, it was an element of luck and I think even now. Kasi even in acceptance, mayroong mahilig sa blonde, may mahilig sa maitim, maputi, lahat 'yan. She stands a good chance that's why she's our representative but I don't know especially that the whole Miss Universe is owned by a different person now," she said.
"During my time, they were into sports, they were into wholesome, charity works, etc. pero ngayon I think a lot of sexiness, and of course, the controversial (inclusivity) all kinds and everything. I have to be careful with my words because I love all, lahat, 'di ba?"
Gloria said that Michelle's beauty is quite unique, and while she's not her "perfect choice," she still believes the PH bet could finish strong in the 2023 edition of the pageant.
"She's not my perfect choice but like I told you, with luck, depending on the judges, depending on the situation, ang gown niya... but ang galing ng mga answer niya, ang talino niya. Depende kung 'yun ang gusto ng mga judges ngayon (na) somebody who will be a walking dictionary or whatever, hindi ba? So on a scale of 1 to 10, ang chances niya is 8. Sa akin ha, sa akin," she emphasized.
Michelle is competing against 83 delegates at the 72nd Miss Universe finals night, which will be aired and streamed live on A2Z Channel 11, Kapamilya Channel, Metro Channel, and iWantTFC on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m. (Philippine time). Same-day replays will be available at 9:30 p.m. on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel via Sunday’s Best, Metro Channel and iWantTFC. Replays will also be aired later in the week on the Metro Channel.