The recently concluded Miss Universe- Philippines found itself in a controversy which involved the announcement of Top 10 finalists for the long gown competition. Following the short break, pageant host Xiam Lim announced technical discrepancies in the tabulation of the Top 10 result. Pageant officials had decided to bring back the Top 18 candidates for the Final Five.
Days following the coronation, Miss Universe- Philippines Organization National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee finally released a statement to address the controversy. In her Facebook post, Lee mentioned that the result which was independently tabulated by their official accounting firm found a 'highly improbable nature of the numbers' which caught her attention.
"In order to ensure absolute fairness and transparency, the board made the decision to initiate a manual counting of the judges' votes. This meticulous process was conducted with the utmost diligence and in the presence of the accounting firm. As a result, it became evident that there were discrepancies in the initial top 10 results," Lee said on Facebook.
The decision enable the Top 18 candidates to all vie in the evening gown event which made it possible for Miss Makati Michelle Dee, Miss Bohol, Pauline Amelinckx, Miss Baguio, Krishnah Gravidez, Miss Zambales Christine Opiaza, and Miss Pampanga, Angelique Mato to reach the final five.
Despite the controversial coronation, Lee had expressed her gratitude to the loyal supporters of the Miss Universe Organization.
"To our loyal supporters, we deeply appreciate your understanding and unwavering belief, in our organization. Your trust means the world to us, and we are determined to honor that trust by continuing to navigate this situation with grace and integrity. Thank you for your continued support, and please know that we value your presence on this incredible journey," Lee said.
Shamcey Supsup-Lee landed third in the 2011 edition of the Miss Universe. She pioneered the signature 'Tsunami Walk' which became the norm for future Miss Universe pageant candidates.