There is some confusion in the ongoing online fan vote for the 2023 Miss Universe, and the news media is complicit in it.

Perhaps as a clickbait, PhilStar and Rappler are heralding Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee’s top spot or close-to-the-top spot standing in the ‘Voice For Change’ fan vote. Filipino pageant fans are, of course, tickled that their candidate is almost assured of a spot in the semifinals. Wrong!

The vote that matters for the semifinal spot is a different app that the news media have buried down in their news reports. It is the official online platform vote that would automatically send the top candidate to the semifinals.

https://missuniverse.choicely.com

So before you click, think!