Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee recently made a significant revelation about her personal life.
In an interview with Mega Magazine, published on Monday, the beauty queen bravely opened up about her bisexuality and shared her journey of self-discovery and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community.
I promised to share my whole story in time - here’s a big part of that. #MMDLoudAndProud #MichelleDee 🏳️🌈 https://t.co/fhsg936LGN pic.twitter.com/ZIuGOmDEkN
— MMD (@michellemdee) May 29, 2023
Michelle fondly recalled her sporty days, when she wholeheartedly engaged in activities such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, and taekwondo.
She also addressed her old photos that recently resurfaced, showing her in boyish outfits and showcasing a more rugged appearance.
Reflecting on those throwback pictures, Michelle expressed mixed emotions.
"It was one of those nene-days photos. I don't know if I'm annoyed that I was so boyish or if it's because it's not aligned with my aesthetic or branding now. Ang layo!" she shared candidly with the local magazine.
In her conversation, Michelle explained her desire to keep those photos private, as they no longer reflected her current style and fashion preferences.
“This is a phase in my life that I’ve worked to keep in the past just because I feel that it doesn’t represent who I am now—the short hair, the sense of style, nene look, all of that. When I decided to rebrand myself entering college, I had already archived all of that," she elaborated.
Courageously embracing her true self, Michelle proudly identified as bisexual. She revealed that she had always resonated with this sexual orientation and was attracted to beauty in all its forms, regardless of shapes and sizes.
While her friends and family were already aware of her bisexuality, she described it as somewhat of an "open secret."
"I definitely identify myself as bisexual. I’ve identified with that for as long as I can remember. I’m attracted to all forms of beauty, all shapes and sizes," said the beauty queen.
Michelle credited her accepting environment to her mother, former beauty queen Melanie Marquez, who celebrated both inner and outer beauty.
With a sense of self-assurance, Michelle emphasized that she never felt the need to "come out" as bisexual before.
"I never had to explicitly label myself or go through the traditional 'coming out' process. I was fortunate to have never been confronted about it," she expressed.
Michelle is set to represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant in El Salvador, where she hopes to bring home the country's fifth Miss Universe crown.
