Michelle Daniela Marquez Dee (; born April 24, 1995) is a Filipino actress, model, host and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned
Miss World Philippines 2019
Miss World Philippines 2019 was the 9th edition of the Miss World Philippines pageant. It was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on September 15, 2019. Katarina Sonja Rodriguez crowned Michelle Daniela ...
.
She represented the Philippines at the
Miss World 2019
Miss World 2019, the 69th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 14 December 2019 at the ExCeL London in London, United Kingdom. Vanessa Ponce of Mexico crowned her successor Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica at the end of the event.
Backgro ...
pageant in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, England and finished as a Top 12 semifinalist.
[
]
Early life and education
Dee was born in Makati
Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines.
Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration ...
, Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region, seat of government and one of three List of metrop ...
, Philippines on April 24, 1995 to businessman and former actor Frederick "Derek" Dee and to actress, author, former supermodel, and beauty queen Melanie Marquez
Mimilanie Laurel Marquez-Lawyer (; born 16 July 1964), popularly known as Melanie Marquez, is a Filipino personality development coach, actress, film producer, author, celebrity endorser, former supermodel and beauty pageant titleholder who was ...
, who was previously Miss International 1979
Miss International 1979, the 19th Miss International pageant, was held on November 12, 1979 at the Mielparque in Tokyo, Japan. The then–15-year-old Mimilanie "Melanie" Marquez earned Philippines' third Miss International crown, becoming the you ...
. She has one sister, Maxine, and four maternal half-siblings – Miguelito, Mazen, Adam Jr. and Abraham. She is of Chinese descent from her father. Her grand-uncle is Chinabank
China Banking Corporation (; ), commonly known as China Bank, is a Filipino bank established in 1920. It was the first privately owned local commercial bank in the Philippines initially catering to the banking needs of Chinese Filipino businesspe ...
founder Dee C. Chuan, while her grandfather Dee K. Chiong also served as Senior Vice President of Chinabank; both were immigrants to the Philippines from Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
, China. Dee spent a considerable time of her childhood in their family ranch in Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
, United States during summers and family vacations. She grew up loving farm animals and enjoying the countryside, both in Utah and in her family's hacienda
An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...
in Mabalacat
Mabalacat, officially the City of Mabalacat ( pam, Lakanbalen ning Mabalacat; fil, Lungsod ng Mabalacat), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 293,244 people ...
, Pampanga
Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga ( pam, Lalawigan ning Pampanga; tl, Lalawigan ng Pampanga ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tarlac ...
, Philippines.
She attended the De La Salle University
De La Salle University ( fil, Pamantasang De La Salle or Unibersidad ng De La Salle), also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private university, private, Catholic Church, Catholic coeducational research university run by the I ...
in Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, Philippines and graduated with a degree in psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
. In 2021, she completed her certificate program in entrepreneurship essentials from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate business school of Harvard University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world and offers a large full-time MBA p ...
.
Pageantry
Miss World Philippines 2019
On 15 September 2019, Dee was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019
Miss World Philippines 2019 was the 9th edition of the Miss World Philippines pageant. It was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on September 15, 2019. Katarina Sonja Rodriguez crowned Michelle Daniela ...
at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
The Araneta Coliseum, also currently known by naming rights sponsorship as Smart Araneta Coliseum, is an indoor multi-purpose arena, sports arena that is part of the Araneta City in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines. Nicknamed as "the ...
in Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
, Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region, seat of government and one of three List of metrop ...
, 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
Fila Holdings Corp. is a sportswear brand of shoes and apparel. The company was founded by Ettore and Giansevero Fila in 1911 in Coggiola, near Biella, Piedmont, Italy. In 2003, it was sold to United States-based Sports Brand International. Sub ...
, 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
Laura Victoria Lehmann-Pessumal (born July 16, 1994) is a Filipino actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World Philippines 2017. She represented the Philippines at the Miss World 2017 pageant in China and fi ...
asked Dee about the lessons and pieces of advice her mother, renowned top model and Miss International 1979
Miss International 1979, the 19th Miss International pageant, was held on November 12, 1979 at the Mielparque in Tokyo, Japan. The then–15-year-old Mimilanie "Melanie" Marquez earned Philippines' third Miss International crown, becoming the you ...
Melanie Marquez
Mimilanie Laurel Marquez-Lawyer (; born 16 July 1964), popularly known as Melanie Marquez, is a Filipino personality development coach, actress, film producer, author, celebrity endorser, former supermodel and beauty pageant titleholder who was ...
, gave her in her preparations for her first-ever beauty pageant competition. Dee replied:
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:
Miss World 2019
As Miss World Philippines 2019
Miss World Philippines 2019 was the 9th edition of the Miss World Philippines pageant. It was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on September 15, 2019. Katarina Sonja Rodriguez crowned Michelle Daniela ...
, Dee represented the Philippines in the Miss World 2019
Miss World 2019, the 69th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 14 December 2019 at the ExCeL London in London, United Kingdom. Vanessa Ponce of Mexico crowned her successor Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica at the end of the event.
Backgro ...
competition at the ExCel Stadium in London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
on 14 December 2019.
During the preliminaries, Dee won both rounds of her group's Head to Head Challenge, earning her a spot in the Top 40 semifinalists. She also placed in the Top 40 of the Top Model competition, and Top 20 in Beauty with a Purpose
Julia Evelyn Morley (née Pritchard; born 25 October 1939) is a British businesswoman, charity worker, and former model. She is the chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, which organizes the Miss World and Mister World. She is the wi ...
.
During the finals night, Dee was called in the Top 40, and ultimately entered the Top 12 semifinals.
Miss Universe Philippines 2022
On April 6, 2022, she was announced as an official candidate for the Miss Universe Philippines 2022
Miss Universe Philippines 2022 was the third edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant. The coronation night was held on April 30, 2022, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Metro Manila, Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines.
...
pageant. At the end of coronation night, she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022, second to the eventual winner, Celeste Cortesi
Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi (; ; born December 15, 1997) is a Filipino-Italian model, actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2022 competiti ...
.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023
On February 18, 2023, she was announced as an official candidate for the Miss Universe Philippines 2023
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 will be the fourth edition of the Miss Universe Philippines competition. The coronation night will be held on May 13, 2023, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Silvia C ...
pageant.
Modeling
Her first modeling gig was with clothing brand Bench in 2016. She signed to Click Model Management in New York, after being scouted during a Bench photoshoot.
Philanthropy
Growing up with two of her siblings diagnosed with autism
The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
, 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
Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...
—especially the younger people—and creating more awareness about autism and mental health. After winning Miss World Philippines 2019
Miss World Philippines 2019 was the 9th edition of the Miss World Philippines pageant. It was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on September 15, 2019. Katarina Sonja Rodriguez crowned Michelle Daniela ...
, Dee donated part of her prize money to individuals on the autism spectrum
The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
who are in need of medical care
Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health profess ...
and other relevant assistance.
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.
Dee is also an LGBT rights advocate.
Personal life
Her maternal cousin is actress and fellow beauty queen Winwyn Marquez
Teresita Ssen Lacsamana Marquez (born May 4, 1992), also known as Winwyn Marquez, is a Filipino actress, model, dancer and beauty queen who was crowned the first Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas title in the Miss World Philippines 2017 pageant ...
. Dee currently lives with close friend and fellow actress Rhian Ramos
Rhian Denise Ramos Howell (; born October 3, 1990), professionally known as Rhian Ramos, is a Filipino actress, commercial model, singer, host and race car driver. She is an exclusive talent of GMA Network
Career
Ramos started working in com ...
.
Filmography
Film
Television
Accolades
Awards and nominations
See also
*Philippines at major beauty pageants
This is a list of the Philippines' representatives and their placements at the Big Four international beauty pageants. The Philippines, was widely considered a beauty pageant powerhouse until 2022. It has won in all four pageants with a total of ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dee, Michelle
1995 births
Living people
Filipino people of Chinese descent
Filipino actors of Chinese descent
Filipino female models
Filipino film actresses
Miss World Philippines winners
Miss Universe Philippines winners
GMA Network personalities
People from Makati
Miss World 2019 delegates
De La Salle University alumni