In the preliminaries of Miss Universe 2023, Michelle Dee seemed to step onto the stage of history and trace the origins of her mother, Melanie Marquez, who was crowned Miss International in 1979. Michelle Dee’s choice of a green gown is a clear expression of respect and homage to her mother, who once walked the Miss International stage in her green attire.
In an interview, Michelle shared the opportunity given to her by the team of Mark Bumgarner to choose three colors for her preliminary gown. According to Michelle, one of the chosen colors was green, and there are two reasons for this: first, to dedicate her attire to the memory of her mother, who wore a distinctive green gown during the Miss International 1979 finale. Second, green is also the color of her advocacy for autism awareness through Autism Society Philippines. She remarked, “[It] truly pays homage to many aspects of my identity.”
Examining the details of the gown reveals inspiration from Marquez’s 1979 attire. “The gown is composed of more than 30,000 [Swarovski] crystals, which I brought home a month ago from my fashion show in LA,” added Bumgarner. While beadwork is unconventional for the fashion house, he thought it was necessary for the Miss Universe stage and cameras.
Dee’s choice of this type of attire carries significance and heritage. It showcases her desire to express love for her mother, focus on her advocacy, and appreciate the stages of history. Amidst the vibrant world of beauty pageants, Michelle Dee’s green gown is not just a fashion statement but a living work of art that carries a story and pays tribute to the past stages of Miss International.
