Dee was born in Makati City, Metro Manila, the Philippines on 24 April 1996 to businessman Frederick "Derek" Dee and to actress, author, former supermodel, and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez. Dee spent a considerable time of her childhood in their family ranch in Utah, the United States during summers and family vacations. She grew up loving farm animals and enjoying the countryside, both in Utah and in her family's hacienda in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the Philippines. She attended the De La Salle University in Manila and graduated with a degree in psychology. Dee is an internationally signed model and an avid fan of photography. In her free time, she takes polaroid photos and rides her big bike. Dee is also an LGBTQIA+rights advocate and champions autism awareness.
Causes
Growing up with two of her siblings diagnosed with autism, Dee has been an advocate for autism awareness and mental health education since she was sixteen years old. This family circumstance is also one of the reasons why she decided to take up psychology at university. She has been working with the Center for Possibilities, Inc., a foundation that helps and cares for children with special needs, and other organizations in spreading more information on autism, assisting those who have the developmental disability—especially the youngsters—and creating more awareness about autism and mental health. In an interview after winning the Miss World Philippines 2019 competition, Dee revealed she is donating part of her prizes to individuals on the autism spectrum who are in need of medical care and other relevant assistance. Dee also works with the in bringing attention to the needs of individuals who are on the autism spectrum and their families, and improving access to intervention facilities and services, especially for those in the provincial areas. She supports autism advocacy programs on art, hippo-therapy, and inclusive employment for those on the autism spectrum. She became the Goodwill Ambassador for the Autism Society Philippines in January 2020.
On 15 September 2019, Dee was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. The finals night comprised competitions in swimwear, evening gown, and two question and answer rounds. She competed with and won over thirty-nine other delegates, and was crowned by outgoing Miss World Philippines 2018Katarina Sonja Rodriguez by the end of the event. During the competition, Dee was conferred six special awards: Miss Sportswoman by FILA, Miss GCOX, Miss Best Skin by Cathy Valencia, Miss BENCH/, Miss Myra E, and Miss Bluewater Day Spa. In the semifinal question and answer round, host Laura Lehmann asked Dee about the lessons and pieces of advice her mother, renowned top model and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, gave her in her preparations for her first-ever beauty pageant competition. Dee replied: In the final question and answer round, Dee was asked which invention from the last century she would love to make a comeback. She answered:
Miss World 2019
As Miss World Philippines 2019, Dee represented the Philippines in the Miss World 2019 competition at the ExCel Stadium in London, England, the United Kingdom on 14 December 2019. During the preliminaries, Dee won both rounds of her group's Head to Head Challenge, earning her a spot in the Top 40 semifinalists. She also placed in the Top 40 of the Top Model competition, and Top 20 in Beauty with a Purpose. During the finals night, Dee was called in the Top 40, and ultimately entered the Top 12 semifinals.
