At the recently-concluded Miss Universe pageant, Michelle Dee managed to scoop up an impressive four major awards, leaving spectators wondering if the competition had secretly been moved to her hometown. 

However, the irony was not lost on the audience when Dee failed to secure a spot in the coveted Top 5. It turns out that, despite the glitzy affair being hosted in El Salvador, the real battleground for victory was online, where Filipinos unleashed a tsunami of votes.

Dee’s triumph in said categories seemed to mirror a virtual hometown advantage. The Spirit of Carnival Award, the lone exception, added a dash of international flair, making it the only recognition not seemingly influenced by the digital power of passionate Filipinos. 

In the end, as Michelle Dee walked away without the Miss Universe crown, one couldn’t help but wonder if the real winners were the internet-savvy citizens of the Philippines.