MANILA, Philippines – Miss Universe 2023 Top 10 finalist Michelle Dee has reacted to the rumors circulating in the pageant world about alleged new rules in Miss Universe for 2025.
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| Michelle Dee crowns Chelsea Manalo during Miss Universe Philippines 2024. Photo courtesy: Facebook/Michelle Marquez Dee |
Among the alleged new rules is that candidates must be born in the countries they would represent. This has sparked conversations, considering that many of our pageant queens are “half nationals.”
Michelle says she does not agree or disagree with the idea. “Yes and no,” she said in an interview.
She explained, “It depends on certain limitations. But of course, if there’s a Filipina that’s born in a different country, who are we to limit them from representing the country they love?”
She made herself an example that while she’s born in the Philippines and raised in America, she feels strongly as a Filipina. “I love the Philippines so much. So I think there are pros and cons. Definitely, so let’s just see what happens.”
Michelle added that she knows that there are other aspiring queens who are not born in the Philippines but also share the same love for the Philippines and would love to represent it.
“Some girls are just unaccounted for. What if it’s just by chance na ipinanganak sila sa ibang bansa? So I think there are some stipulations and clarifications that we still have to find out, but nonetheless, they have a good team behind them, and I hope that it is a successful one,” she added.
Another alleged update is the supposed date of the next Miss Universe pageant. Rumors said that countries should have already chosen their candidates by August 17, 2025, because the scheduled date of the next Miss Universe pageant is by October 2025.
These alleged new rules have been posted on the Facebook fan page of Michelle, MMD x PorDee Universe. It added that the National Directors of Miss Universe organizations all over the world allegedly had a meeting in Mexico City prior to the 2024 finals last Sunday, November 17.
The Miss Universe official page has yet to make an official announcement confirming or denying the alleged new rules.
— Sally, The Summit Express
