Amidst a fervent online uproar sparked by the omission of Michelle Dee from the Top 5 at the 72nd Miss Universe, initiatives are unfolding to quell the dissatisfaction resonating among Filipinos.

A pervasive belief has taken root within the Filipino community, asserting that their candidate, Michelle Dee, was unfairly overlooked for a spot in the esteemed tier.

The focal point of this recent uproar centers around the Best National Costume accolade bestowed upon Dee almost a week after the competition, sparking skepticism and accusations of attempts to mollify both the Filipino beauty queen and her fervent supporters.

Despite Dee clinching all major awards, including the Best National Costume, the resonance of disappointment within the Filipino community has triggered a cascade of skepticism and accusations.

Dee secured the Best National Costume award through votes on the Choicely app, where fans passionately advocated for their preferred candidate in this distinctive category.

However, a faction of the Filipino populace remains unconvinced, insinuating that Miss Universe management, helmed by owner Anne Jakrajutatip, is orchestrating a strategic move to pacify both Michelle Dee and a disgruntled Filipino audience that firmly believes their candidate was unjustly denied a Top 5 spot.

Doubts persist regarding the transparency of the judging process, with some accusing the competition of lacking integrity.

Critics contend that the legitimacy of Dee’s National Costume win is dubious, asserting that there are other contestants more deserving of the honor.

This sentiment is succinctly expressed by a user identified as AC Nixon, who remarked, “Anything na lang talaga basta Philippines maski di naman ganun ka-deserving nilulunok na lang ng Filipino all in the name of pride. MMD is great, no doubt about it, but let’s be real, this NatCos isn’t.”

Allegations of foul play and a lack of transparency in the judging process reverberate across social media platforms, with users such as Ms Naive and Brian B casting doubt on the timing and authenticity of the National Costume announcement.

“Four awards tapos di pasok sa TOP 5. @MissUniverse, you clearly rigged the competition. There’s no transparency in your part. A shame,” posted another X user Ms Naive.

“Something’s fishy about this award. JUST being announced today instead on the actual pageant night. Its giving…… pampalubag loob idk,” X user Brian B also commented. 

The sentiment is encapsulated in a scathing comment by @cookeys7091 on YouTube: “By announcing Philippines won even added more insult to the injury to both the fans and the MU reputation. It’s like giving a lollipop to the kids fans instead of a trip to Disneyland just to shut up.”

Even YouTuber HIJRsings, with thousands of subscribers, weighed in on the controversy, characterizing it as another instance of mismanagement.

In a reaction video titled “Miss Universe Owner Continues to Disrespect By Giving Michelle Dee Best National Costume,” HIJRsings questioned the sincerity behind the awards, stating, “But then that begs the question, is it a cooking show?”

“Now all of the sudden, it’s been seen that the owner has mistreated Michelle Dee. And now to sort of make amends, they wanna throw this bone to her,” he said.

Despite the controversy surrounding her Best National Costume award, Michelle Dee emerged triumphant in other facets of the pageant.

Apart from clinching the Voice for Change and the Carnival Cruise Award, her costume, adorned with a “solihiya” pattern and Philippine flag colors, featured a mural depicting tourist destinations and the current tourism slogan, “Love The Philippines.” T

he outfit also served as a poignant nod to her personal advocacy for individuals on the autism spectrum, with the mural design portraying her siblings.

While Dee fell short of the Top 5, finishing her Miss Universe journey in the Top 10, fellow beauty queens praised her outstanding performance.

The aftermath of the controversy underscores the intricacies of pageant politics and the fervent emotions that envelop the Miss Universe competition.