Carla Gem Buyo

#MyPrideInFashion: Michelle Dee On Wearing Power, Pride, And Presence

Article (news)

<p>“I’ve chosen to break the boxes.” That’s how <strong>Michelle Dee</strong>—Miss Universe Philippines 2023, singer, actress, entrepreneur, fashion creative, and LGBTQIA+ icon—describes her approach to both fashion and identity. With every power suit, corset, or sky-high stiletto, she challenges expectations of what a new-age beauty queen can be. As the second openly queer Miss Universe Philippines titleholder, Michelle dresses to express, disrupt, and lead.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17512586804577A800D69-CD05-4FF1-81B2-65205DC7354A.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>“Fashion definitely turned into a medium where I could reclaim power and tell the world who I am without needing to explain,” she shares. “As a bisexual woman in the public eye, I understand how every outfit, every walk, and every post can either reinforce old boxes or break them.” That refusal to shrink herself has become central to how she shows up—whether it’s in jeans and a cowboy hat, or a slinky disco dress. She leans into fashion’s contradictions, embracing both structure and softness, femininity and edge.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17512593551742EE97E55-4653-4094-918E-A8DA2697889E.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">The queer icon describes her identity and fashion philosophy as a choice to “break the boxes.”</span></span></span></div><p>“I’ve always believed that softness is not the opposite of strength. It’s part of it,” she says. “My favorite looks are the ones that mirror that duality, like a clean-cut suit with nothing underneath, or a sheer blouse over a strong shoulder. A body-hugging dress that feels like armor. Stilettos that say, ‘I’ve arrived,’ even if I’m running late.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Even off duty, Michelle commands attention. Her modelesque aura is effortless. “Confidence doesn’t come from clothes, it comes from knowing who you are even when things are changing,” she explains.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751259452287B58478E3-D508-440F-BF4F-A434E866AAB3.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">A signature Michelle Dee look is often elevated (literally) with a stunning stiletto.</span></span></span></div><p>That said, her effortlessness is more of a vibe rather than an attitude. Her approach is grounded in thoughtful effort. “The only consistent thing in my style is intention. Whether I’m going for minimal and sleek or maximal and playful, it has to reflect what I stand for and how I feel in that moment.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:467px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17512595169863F64E3DF-ACE4-4964-8D25-25F0C2C2D753.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Effortless does not come at the cost of thoughtfulness. “The only consistent thing in my style is intention,” Michelle says.</span></span></span></div><p>That intentionality is especially present during Pride Month, when she uses fashion as a tool for both celebration and solidarity. “I show up for Pride the way I show up in life—boldly but thoughtfully,” Michelle says. “Visually, I love playing with fashion during Pride because it gives me a chance to turn up the volume. Camp, color, texture, layers of culture. But it’s not just about the looks. It’s about what the looks are saying.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751259549965AE1050F8-A067-45D8-A15B-1F3BD4C114E7.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">“I show up for Pride the way I show up in life—boldly but thoughtfully.”</span></span></span></div><p>For her, Pride is visibility with a purpose. “Pride isn’t just about being seen—it’s about reminding others that they deserve to be seen too. As someone with a platform, I know that visibility can be life-changing. So I use it to amplify joy, but also to honor the struggle. Pride is protest. It’s community. It’s a celebration of survival and love. And I will always show up for that.”</p><div><br/></div><p>One of her proudest fashion moments came during Miss Universe 2023, where she made a conscious decision to reflect a version of herself that was real, not rehearsed. “I chose to break away from the expected and reflect a version of myself that felt honest,” she says. “I knew the world had its idea of what a beauty queen should look like—and in doing so, I didn’t just represent myself, a crown, or a country. I represented truth, identity, and the kind of queenhood that writes its own rules.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Photos from @michelledee on Instagram</p>

#MyPrideInFashion: Michelle Dee On Wearing Power, Pride, And Presence

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#MyPrideInFashion: Michelle Dee On Wearing Power, Pride, And Presence

Pauline Lacanilao Arnould

Published June 30, 2025 02:51 PM PHT

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