SHE was amazing,” declared Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz when asked how Michelle Dee, the country’s representative to this year’s edition of the pageant, performed in the contest held last month in El Salvador.
“She had a beautiful gown. Nainggit nga ako. I liked the black one that looked like a tattoo. She also had good answers. She did really well, it’s just that the judges were looking for someone else this year. Maybe she can compete again next year. That’s the ‘in’ thing now — if you don’t win the first time, you can go for it for the second time, or third, or fourth,” she told Inquirer Entertainment during the media gathering for her latest movie, Derrick Cabrido’s “Mallari.”
Is there someone she would like to see compete on the pageant stage? “I can’t think of someone right now, but I’m telling you that when her mom (Melanie Marquez) competed [and won for Miss International in 1979], I was a judge during the pageant. A lot were saying that she wouldn’t make it because she didn’t speak English, but I really pushed for her. This is not an IQ contest or a contest for who’s the smartest,” she pointed out.
“All these times, I kept saying our contestants should speak in the Filipino language so they will have time to think. There are a lot of interpreters there, anyway. Or if you’re Ilokana, and that’s your first language, then speak Ilokano. For me, Michelle can always join. I don’t know what’s with us Filipinos. We keep saying we got cheated. I guess we just got used to winning.”
‘Unbalanced’
She then explained why she thought transgender women should have their own beauty contest. “Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against them. I have a lot of beautiful transgender friends. Actually, I think they will beat all those biological women [also known as cisgenders] because they’re better with the movements. They know better how to project themselves,” she began.
“It’s not fair. They should really have their own. We should let them compete in their own Miss … I don’t know what title to use. Like sports, it’s a different ball game altogether. I just heard someone say, let’s say a biological woman experiences menstrual problems on the night of the contest, then this is already unfair compared to the trans. It’s an unbalanced and unfair competition,” she stressed. (Marinel Cruz © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
