Veteran television host Boy Abunda disclosed on his GMA show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” that he was initially invited to judge the Miss Universe 2023 pageant but was later disqualified. The disqualification stemmed from an interview he conducted with one of the candidates, specifically the Philippines’ representative, Michelle Dee.
Abunda confirmed the news on the November 21 episode, clarifying an earlier article about his potential involvement in the Miss Universe pageant held in El Salvador. He acknowledged that interviewing Michelle Dee prior to her departure for the pageant ultimately led to his disqualification, adhering to the pageant’s impartiality rules.
Despite the setback, Abunda humorously remarked that he would have supported Dee regardless of the outcome. He also commended Dee for her achievements, including her place in the Top 10 and her victories in both the fan vote and the Spirit of Carnival Award. Additionally, Dee was recognized for her advocacy work towards autism awareness, winning one of the three Gold awards in the Voice For Change competition.
The Miss Universe 2023 title was claimed by Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, marking the country’s first win in the pageant’s history, with Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild as the first runner-up.