Umamin din sa wakas, Michelle Dee loud and proud bisexual! Matapos koronahang Miss U PH...

“I definitely identify myself as bisexual. I’ve identified with that for as long as I can remember. I’m attracted to all forms of beauty, all shapes and sizes,”  ang pag-amin ni Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee sa exclusive interview ng mega-onemega.com (Mega).

Actually, hindi na shocking sa showbiz ng tunay na kasarian ni Michelle. Dahil kapag tinanong, sinasabi niya na siya ay bisexual.

“It was never an issue because I felt—and I still feel like—I’m so much more than how I identify myself.

“I have so much more to offer the world and the universe than how I identify myself. This is also the reason why I chose not to come out despite the pressure to come out during the competition,” paglalahad pa niya sa nasabing interview na unang lumabas kahapon sa social media.

Pinapayuhan din daw siyang pag-usapan ang kanyang kasarian bago manalo ng korona sa MUP pero sinabi niya na “I said, ‘No.’ I joined the pageant because this is much greater than myself. This is not about me. This is about the cause I’m fighting, advocating for: autism awareness. That’s my main goal. My identity is not what I want to be remembered for. I felt like coming out during the competition would shock everyone, and cloud everyone’s judgment. I also wanted to do that within my own timeline, and it wasn’t the right time. Because I want all of my focus and everyone’s focus to be on all the good causes.”

Pero pagkatapos na mag-isip-isip, nagdesisyon siyang ito na ang tamang panahon.  “I want to come out with this story because I know that those photos were spread with malicious intent— to kind of distract me, make me feel I’m not worthy of the crown,” paliwanag pa niya.

“I acknowledge that it was so malicious that I felt—and this applies to everyone—when somebody takes away your story, then you should take control of that narrative. Turn it around and make it an empowering story.

“So that’s what I’m doing. I feel that it’s so important when somebody tries to knock you down and use your past against you. We all have to realize that we’ve come such a long way to just let our past define us. Again, how old was I? That was 2014, and it’s 2023.”

Sagot na nga siguro ito ni Michelle sa mga kumakalat na photos and videos niya na nagpapakita ng kanyang totoong kasarian noon pa lang nag-uumpisa siya sa showbiz.

Naniniwala naman siyang walang masama sa kanyang ginagawa. Sabi niya pa, ito ay isa sa mga paraan upang bigyan ng inspirasyon ang mga tao na madama ang kanilang kuwento. “Be more empowered and do not let other people control your life, your narrative. Own who you really are and have that self-worth and confidence to control your life. If you try to take that away, I’ll take it back. It boils down to respecting people and spreading love and spreading light. There’s too much hate in the world. Let’s make a conscious effort to make this a better world.

“I’ve been an advocate for LGBTQIA+ for as long as I can remember. Even before coming out, I’ve been attending pride marches. I have too many friends and best friends in the community. I’ve been a loud and proud ally. It’s just that I never gave a confirmation.”

Grade 5 o 6 pa lang siya nang magkagusto raw siya sa babae. Kakalipat lang niya at ng kanyang pamilya sa Pilipinas, at naging malapit siya sa isang kaibigan ng pamilya. Pero weird daw ang pakiramdam. At alam daw ito ng inang si Melanie Marquez.

Nagkaroon na raw siya ng ilang karelasyon pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang naipakilala sa kanyang mga magulang.

Sa kasalukuyan, aniya ay single siya at nakatutok siyang sa kanyang laban sa Miss Universe competition sa El Salvador.

Dagdag niya ipagpapatuloy niya ang kanyang training at “Hopefully that pays off because I know I have the qualities to be the transformational leader that the organization needs, and I know I can use this platform as a force for good. I hope the Filipinos see that. I will do my best to raise our country’s flag loud and proud,” pahayag niya sa nasabing interview ng Mega na sabog agad sa social media.

Si Beatrice Luigi Gomez, former Miss Universe Philippines ang unang lantad na bisexual na sumali sa nasabing beauty contest.

Bukod kay Rhian Ramos na kanyang housemate at hun ang kanilang tawagan, diumano’y niligawan ni Michelle si Mikee Quintos bago ito naging girlfriend ni Paul Salas.