Michele Gumabao took to social media to share an empowering message about loving oneself and embracing one's body.
The athlete turned beauty queen revealed that up to this point, she still gets criticized because of her body.
"Transitioning from being a professional volleyball player to beauty pageants, I was and still am being criticized for being too big or too muscular. My legs are too big, they say, honestly they really are," she said.
Nonetheless, she remarked that she chooses to embrace her figure and appreciate her body structure which helped her have a thriving career in sports.
"Instead of being insecure about it, which is a constant battle of choice, I just remind myself that these legs got me through years of intense volleyball, allowed me to jump, play and win," she stated.
Michele reminded her followers that self-love is a choice.
READ: Michele Gumabao tries her luck in Miss Universe Philippines
"If you constantly find yourself comparing who you are and how you look with others, may this remind you that self-love and confidence won’t be handed to you, it is a choice! I say let them hate. They‘ll never understand that these muscles are only made for champions," she stated.
Michele once became the co-captain of De La Salle University women's volleyball team the Lady Spikers in 2012 to 2013. She entered the world of pageantry in 2018 and won the Binibining Pilipinas Globe crown.