Michelle Dee's Miss Universe green evening gown is a tribute to her mom Melanie Marquez
![Michelle Dee pays tribute to Melanie Marquez with green evening gown](https://images.gmanews.tv/webpics/2023/11/MMD_Miss_Universe_Green_Gown_2023_11_16_14_04_04.jpg)
The Philippines’ Michelle Dee did not fail to wow pageant fans with her outstanding performance along with her breathtaking green gown during the Miss Universe preliminary competition!
On Instagram, Filipino designer Mark Bumgarner shared photos they took while they were bringing Michelle’s gown to life.
“Miss Universe Philippines evening gown for the Miss Universe Preliminary Evening Gown Competition is a tribute to a Filipina Icon, Melanie Marquez, her mom, who won Miss International in 1979,” he wrote, including a photo of Melanie wearing her green gown in the post.
Michelle's gown sparkled with 30,000 emerald green and black Swarovski crystals, creating an extra shimmer, especially when illuminated by light.
“I wanted it to shimmer just like [the] skin of a green viper; a symbol of wisdom, power, and transformation,” Mark said.
He added that the cutouts were “strategically placed” on the gown “to give it a modern look, and a cinched waist.”
“A high neckline, power shoulders, and a column silhouette give it an elegant look,” Mark wrote.
He then thanked Michelle for the powerful performance she gave, adding that he’s excited for the finals night.
Alongside her evening gown performance, Michelle also strutted the Miss Universe runway in a red swimsuit and used Filipinas in her introduction.
Michelle has been participating in Miss Universe’s pre-coronation activities in El Salvador, eyeing to bring home the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown with an advocacy for autism awareness.
The prestigious pageant’s national costume competition will take place on Friday morning (Manila time), while the coronation night is scheduled for November 18, where Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will report as a backstage correspondent.
— Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News