Countless Filipino fans and supporters found themselves in the throes of frustration when Michelle Dee, the pride of the Philippines, missed the mark in securing a coveted spot among the this year’s Miss Universe top 5 finalists.
This shortfall sparked an overwhelming wave of disappointment that reverberated among Filipino netizens.
The reaction was nothing short of the passionate fervor witnessed during Manny Pacquiao’s monumental boxing matches.
On the digital stage, now dominated by X (formerly Twitter), the term “ROBBED” has taken center stage, standing out in all caps.
The hashtag #MissUniverse2023, along with other trending topics like “Si MMD” and “Anntonia”, reflect the widespread disappointment among Filipino fans.
The “ROBBED” trend specifically addresses Michelle Dee’s absence from the top 5 finals, a development lamented by countless fans.
The coveted slots went to Miss Australia, Miss Nicaragua, Miss Thailand, Miss Puerto Rico, and Miss Colombia.
Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua emerged victorious as this year’s Miss Universe, held in El Salvador, with Anntonia Porsild from Thailand and Moraya Wilson from Australia securing the first and second runner-up positions, respectively.
The frustration among millions of Filipino Miss Universe enthusiasts is palpable, considering the Philippines’ growing prominence in international pageant competitions.
One netizen on X, Paige (@slayingduchess), expressed disbelief, stating, “WAIT??? ARE WE ON THE SAME PAGE???? THAT GOWN IS THE BEST AMONG ALL OF THEM. WHAT HAPPENED??? They are really afraid that the Philippines might devour the mic when she enters the Top 5 so they had to get rid of her. ROBBED!”
Another user, Mrs. Christenson (@MicahCanino), praised Michelle Dee’s gown, saying, “One of the best gowns that ever walked the stage of #MissUniverse2023! Apo Whang-Od must be proud! Michelle Dee was robbed!”
Here’s Filipina actress Rhian Ramos also tweeting, “something fishy…”
Frustration echoed in another user’s comment, as @thenicoferocity stated, “Congrats Nicaragua! Pero Michelle Dee was robbed talaga.”
On the simplicity of the questions posed during the pageant, Jordan (@flowermj9) expressed confusion, saying, “Cooking show. Robbed. I’m still confused.”
Netizens like Kris (@yunalesmis) speculated on the motives behind Michelle Dee’s exclusion, suggesting, “Lol these questions are so simple and answers are so underwhelming. They know MMD would slay, so they robbed her of Top 5.”
Michelle Dee is renowned for her wit and ability to navigate challenging Q&A sessions effortlessly, even under pressure.
“I can’t believe we were robbed of seeing more of Olivia’s roast and any of Brayden’s roast,” lamented Tatiana (@Tatii__).
The sentiment continued to pour in, with users like Joken (jokenkenAR) and @aaarrrrtttt expressing their disappointment, labeling Michelle Dee’s exclusion as a blatant robbery.
As Nicole commented, “another biggest ‘what if’ nating mga pinoy, she was indeed robbed for being the miss universe 2023.”
“We can all agree that ms. Philippines was robbed,” asserted another user, Poppy. The controversy surrounding Michelle Dee’s exclusion from the top 5 continues to reverberate across social media platforms, leaving fans questioning the fairness of the Miss Universe 2023 judging process.
The Daily Netizen 