Usap-usapan ang evening gown ni Miss Universe Thailand 2024 contestant Ana Maria Benedic na tila inspirasyon daw sa pinag-usapang Apo Whang-Od evening gown na ginamit ni Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee sa coronation night ng nabanggit na prestihiyosong pageant noong 2023.
Makikitang halos pareho ng disenyo ang gown nina Dee at Benedic, batay sa ibinahaging video ng pageant community page na "Pageanthology 101."
Tinawag itong "The Michelle Effect."
" • Michelle Dee’s iconic Apo Whang-Od gown serves as inspiration to one of our lovely Miss Universe Thailand 2024 candidate Ana Maria Benedic," mababasa sa caption ng post.
Blooms, excited na sa world tour ng BINI sa 2025
Umami naman ito ng iba't ibang reaksiyon at komento mula sa Pinoy netizens. Matatandaang hindi ito ang unang beses na napansin ng mga netizen ang pagkakahawig ng gown ng ilang kontesera sa Thailand sa gown ng mga kumakatawan sa Pilipinas gaya ni Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
"The question is, what does the gown represents and it's meaning? Michelle Dee's gown is beautiful and original. It has a very intricate details of art that have meaning and it has it's story why it was created. What's with the Thailand Miss U gown?"
"I think ladies in Thailand who join their beauty pageants always look for gowns/ concept inspirations from our beauty queens.. like during Catriona’s reign as MU, they copied her gown style and even the gown she wore during the finals night. then one of their MUT copies Catriona’s gown but changed it to blue color. cant they have originality? Or dont they have enough artist there?"
"Same with michelle, her gown was inspired by the tattoos made by Apo Whang-Od. Tapos maybe the candidate's designer was in awe when s/he saw the gown worn by Michelle hence the inspiration for his/her candidate's gown. ganon talaga u get inspired by something tapos u create something beautiful."
"let's appreciate guys. that proves how trendsetter PHILIPPINES is."
Samantala, wala pang tugo, reaksiyon, o pahayag ang kampo ni Michelle o ang mismong designer ng gown niya patungkol dito.
