Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee with her mother, Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez

Iconic beauty queen Melanie Marquez advised her daughter Michelle Dee to "claim a crown on your head" as she competed in the Miss Universe Philippines finals last Saturday, Melanie said this is what she also manifested when she competed for Miss International 1979 and became its youngest winner at the age of 15.

"Tinext ko sya (Michelle), sabi ko sa kanya: be yourself and always claim the crown on top of your head as you walk on the aisle," Melanie said in an informal interview after Michelle's coronation as Miss Universe Philippines 2023 at the SM MOA Arena.

"I told her to thank God all the time for all the blessings you are receiving. I wish her all the best, and I'm sure she will bring honor to the country," Melanie said. The statuesque former model and actress, who is now 58, wore an all-red business outfit for "luck" on Michelle's big day.

The former beauty queen who is based most of the time now in Utah, United States also revealed that she will definitely be in El Salvador when Michelle competes for the 72nd Miss Universe pageant later this year.

Melanie has six children. The eldest is Manuelito, her son with actor-politician Lito Lapid. Her union with an Arab sheikh produced another son, Mazen, now 32, who was diagnosed with autism. Melanie's former marriage to Filipino-Chinese businessman Derek Dee produced two daughters - Michelle and Maxine, After they separated, she married again, this time to American Adam Lawyer with whom she has two sons, Adam and Abraham. Adam has also been diagnosed with "delay syndrome."

Melanie Marquez (second from right)  proudly poses on stage with her children during the coronation of her daughter Michelle Dee (center) as the new Miss Universe Philippines. Shown (from left) are Adam Lawyer, Maxine Dee and Mazen, her son with an Arab sheikh.

Because her two half-brothers have special needs, Michelle took up the advocacy of autism awareness when she joined Miss Universe Philippines. Her coronation last Saturday showed her on stage with Melanie, her sister Maxine, as well as her brothers Mazeen and Adam.

When asked how Michelle is towards her siblings, Melanie commented: "She's great. Mabait si Michelle. People sometimes misunderstand her because she is the quiet type."

Maxine, 31, expressed happiness that her younger sister was finally crowned after her second try. " I've always believed in her. She's always been a queen. She's prepared fully for this moment, and she deserves every second of it, so I'm happy for her."

After her coronation, Michelle remarked that she "almost cried" seeing her mother in the crowd because "I consider her my lucky charm." Melanie recalled that during the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 pageant, she was not able to enter the venue because she did not bring her vaccination card with her, which was a requirement then.