For Michelle Dee, 'autism awareness isn't just an advocacy. It's a life long mission'

A week before the Miss World coronation event, Michelle Dee passionately talked about her advocacy and mission to give Filipino people with autism better lives.

In her head to head interview, the Filipina beauty queen did not hold back as she poured her heart out as she shared her beauty with a purpose: Michelle was eager to make a better community for people with autism.

The Kapuso celebrity has two siblings with autism, and as such Michelle has a wealth of experience: First, seeing the struggles of people who autism and second, experiencing first-hand the struggles of their carers.

"Coming from the states or coming from the USA, you really see the difference of laws, health services that are embedded in the communities or in the laws or even just on the educational system which is very absent in the Philippines nowadays," she said.

Michelle mentioned how the Philippines "don't have a law that protects autistic individuals, we don't have those health services readily available for them."

She said working closely with Autisim Society Philippines (ASP) gave her an opportunity to visit persons with disabilities in the province of Sagada where they had a medical mission.

"It really warmed my heart because I saw people from five years back who couldn't even speak, couldn't even converse and now they are speaking, they are having fun," she said.

Michelle narrated how she found out most of them still have to travel five to six hours by foot just to get to institutions to help them with their disability.

She said this "opened my eyes to see that this is what I want to help, this is how I want to help my country. I want to add these chapters all across the rural areas."

She also mentioned she's working with ASP to give training, help families and big establishments train individuals on the autism spectrum so they can function in the community like everyone else.

"The misconception of the individuals on the autism spectrum is that they have no purpose. They can't do anything but what the reality is if you give them the right opportunities, the right place in the world, then they will feel like they belong and that's what  I really want for them I want them to be happy," she said.

For Michelle, "autism awareness isn't just an advocacy for me but a life long mission."

Michelle belonged in Group 17 together with Rwanda, Aruba, Domincan Republic and Ghana who also shared a part of their life and their Beauty with a Purpose.

She is currently in London to vie for the Miss World 2019 on December 14, Saturday at 10:00 p.m. (Manila time).

She was Missosology's top candidate bet to win the pageant on their second hot picks list. — LA, GMA News