Michelle Dee’s Miss Universe journey might’ve ended prematurely but she did put up one heck of a fight and for that, she has won in our hearts. The PH bet finished in the Top 10 at the 72nd edition of the international pageant held in El Salvador. It’s safe to say that Michelle stunned, slayed, and served (as Gen Z would say it) all her looks from start to finish — from that head-turning denim coord airport outfit made by a Filipino designer to her mesmerizing evening gown that, as we now all know, was inspired by none other than Apo Whang-Od. Let’s take a closer look at Michelle’s outfits!

Michelle Dee is a natural stunner

Michelle didn’t come to play. Every piece of clothing the 28-year-old has packed for this pageant bore weight and meaning. For example, her deep green Mark Bumgarner cut-out gown not only symbolized her advocacy of autism awareness but was also the same shade as her mother Melanie Martinez’s winning gown for Miss International 1979.

Her aircraft-inspired National Costume might’ve divided folks online, but it aimed to promote Philippine tourism. Filipino designer Michael Barassi included intricate details on the huge plane wings including images of a jeepney, the Philippines’ most breathtaking sights, and even our tourism slogan, ‘Love the Philippines.’ The costume was also a nod to Michelle’s advocacy as an Air Force reservist.

Every opportunity she got, Michelle made sure to don outfits promoting our local designers. But she was packing the best for last with her Whang-Od-inspired evening gown.

An ode to Apo Whang-Od

We’d hate to play favorites (we love every single one of Michelle’s outfits!), but if we had to pick which of the beauty queen’s looks we like best, it would be her stunning evening gown. We daresay the whole ensemble will go down as one of the most beautiful evening gowns in Philippine beauty queen history.

“Timeless woman, an ode to Whang-Od,” Michelle wrote on Instagram, the first time she posted a photo of her in the black, beaded number.

Michelle shares that the gown was not only a tribute to the 106-year-old Filipino artist, Apo Whang Od, but it was also a celebration of the Miss Universe organization lifting age restrictions for its beauty queens.

“A tribute to a legendary Filipina who has become an icon, preserving the rich cultural heritage of indigenous tattoo art. She has achieved global recognition and symbolizes timeless beauty, coinciding with Miss Universe lifting its age restrictions, championing inclusivity, and challenging age stereotypes,” wrote Michelle in a separate post.

“A true icon and the last of her kind, a symbol of bravery, beauty, and inclusivity… Whang Od,” she added.

Making Michelle Dee’s Whang-Od-inspired gown

Mark Bumgarner, the well-loved Filipino designer and the genius behind Michelle’s gown, also shared some behind-the-scenes moments in creating the masterpiece.

“The moment I told Michelle about the idea, she instantly said YES. The message resonated with her: a legendary Filipina whose art symbolizes bravery, beauty, and identity, and who has become a symbol of timeless beauty being the oldest woman to grace the beauty issue of a magazine (Vogue Magazine),” wrote Bumgarner.

The designer took inspiration from Whang-Od’s iconic pintados or traditional Filipino tattoo art. It was a display of “vibrant culture and world-class craftsmanship combined.”

Bumgarner said it was a “long and tedious” process of creating the beaded gown. The aim was to make it look as if it’s Michelle’s second skin; as if the beads are tattoos that “make her look like a warrior.”

The designer included videos of their team doing the gown’s intricate beadwork and Michelle trying it on and bringing their vision to life.

“I hope you guys feel how much work was put into this dress, not just about how long it took, but also the message and symbol it represents,” added Bumgarner.

Dee might’ve missed out on a Top 5 finish but she did bag several special awards including the Miss Universe fan vote, the Voice for Change competition, and the Spirit of Carnival Award from pageant sponsor Carnival Cruises. Meanwhile, Nicaraguas’ Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe 2023 while Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild and Australia’s Moraya Wilson placed second and third, respectively.

What do you think of Michelle Dee and her Whang-Od-inspired evening gown? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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