Is Michelle Dee our next Miss World titleholder?

by Nikko Tuazon

Philippine bet Michelle Dee is among the top picks of the Miss World 2019 pageant fans. The grand coronation night is on December 14, at the ExCeL London. PHOTO/S: @MICHELLEDEE ON INSTAGRAM

All eyes are on Philippine bet Michelle Dee, awaiting how she will fare in the upcoming Miss World 2019 pageant.

Michelle is among the 111 delegates from all over the world vying for the Miss World crown. Vanessa Ponce of Mexico will crown her successor at the pageant's grand coronation night on December 14, at the ExCeL London.

The daughter of Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez may become the country's second Miss World titleholder following Megan Young's win in 2013.

Missosology, the world's biggest pageant forum, even predicts Michelle will bring the crown home this year.

Michelle has already secured her spot in the Top 40 as one of the ten winners of the pageant's Head to Head challenge, where candidates were asked to discuss their respective advocacies.

Her advocacy for autism and mental health awareness also made it to the Top 20 of the Beauty With A Purpose challenge.

In her Instagram post on Wednesday, December 11, she wrote, "It's been such a proud moment for us today mga kababayan as we've officially secured a spot in the Top 40 through the Head to Head Challenge!!

"Not just that but my Beauty With A Purpose project made it to the final 20 as well (@autismphils)! #AOKPH."

Michelle also made it to the Top 40 contestants for the Top Model challenge.

Her huge social-media following (she has 102,000 followers on Instagram) made her a contender at the Multimedia challenge, which asks contestants to share their preparations ahead of the pageant's grand coronation night.

Michelle has been sharing her Miss World 2019 journey, including her OOTDs these past few weeks.

Here's her sun goddess-inspired Filipiniana gown by fashion designer Francis Libiran.

Filipino pageant fans hope Michelle can break the "drought" experienced by this year's batch of beauty queens.

So far, some of the Philippine candidates managed to get into the semi-finals of their respective pageants.

Mary Daena Zaide Resurreccion, who represented the country at the Miss Eco Teen 2019 pageant in Egypt, placed in the Top 5. 

Miss Eco Philippines 2019 Kelley Day, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2019 Maria Katrina Llegado, Miss Multinational Philippines 2019 Isabelle de Leon, and Miss Tourism Philippines 2019 Glyssa Leiann Perez are yet to compete in their respective international pageants.

Five of the six Binibining Pilipinas queens have also failed to bring home a crown this year.

Gazini Ganados made it to Top 20 of the Miss Universe 2019 pageant in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bea Patricia Magtanong was among the top 8 finalists at the Miss International 2019 pageant in Japan.

Resham Saeed made it to the Top 25 of Miss Supranational 2019 pageant in Poland.

Leren Mae Bautista placed second runner-up at Miss Globe 2019 in Montenegro.

Samantha Ashley Lo did not make the semi-finalist cut at the Miss Grand International 2019 in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 Emma Mary Tiglao is already in Egypt vying for a back-to-back win at the Miss Intercontinental pageant.

https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/lifestyle/148141/michelle-dee-miss-world-titleholder-a721-20191213