Michelle Dee honors Filipino weaving culture, role as Air Force Reservist for Miss Universe National Costume show

Michelle Dee is very much in her game!

At the Miss Universe National Costume show, the beauty queen paid tribute to the Filipino weaving culture and her role as an Air Force Reservist.

Michelle wore a tan look, accented with the colors of the Philippines: red, blue, yellow, and white.

The bodice on Michelle’s look featured a solihiya woven pattern, one of the Philippines’ most popular rattan weaves and had airplane-like wings with the colors of the Philippine flag as well as a mural of the country’s iconic destinations. At the back is the country’s tourist slogan, #LoveThePhilippines.

Michelle accessorized with a captain’s hat, “a salute to her role as an Air Force reservist and to our boundless adventures awaiting in the skies!”

At the show, reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel introduced Michelle, saying, “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the Philippines!”

“Crowned with a captain’s hat, this costume is a salute to the delegate’s role as an Air Force Reservist. This look is representative of her country: resilient and radiant," R'Bonney added.

 “There’s no denying she’s the queen of flying in the Philippines!”

Michelle followed the costume’s theme and walked confidently across the stage. She began with presenting flight signals with her hands, before ending with a salute.

Ahead of the show, Miss Universe Philippines posted Michelle's national costume on Instagram and said, 
“Behold, Sergeant Michelle Marquez Dee, Miss Universe Philippines, adorned in the nation’s pride and heritage.” 

“With each thread woven into the ‘solihiya’ pattern, an iconic design used in the tropics of the Philippines, it embraces her body flawlessly — unfolding the story of the islands’ unity and artistry,” it added.  

Miss Universe Philippines said the airplane-inspired costume aims to be as stunning as the Philippine archipelago. They added, “This National Costume represents the Philippines itself — resilient, radiant and ready to embrace the Universe!”

The costume is by Filipino designer Michael Barassi.

Prior to the national costume competition, Michelle teased her look by posting clips during her training under the Philippine Air Force’s Basic Citizen Military Training.

It very much delivered on the promise she made a few hours before the event, when Michelle took to Instagram and told pageant fans, “Let’s give them another show, shall we?" 

Her performance at the natcos was simply an extension of the fabulous show she put on at the prelims, where Michelle was elegant in an emerald green evening gown, and was sizzling hot in a red swimsuit.

She is vying for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown with an advocacy for autism awareness.

The Miss Universe coronation night is set for Sunday, November 19 (Philippine time), where Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will serve as a backstage correspondent.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by MMD (@michelledee)

— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News