2018

Miss Universe 2018 - Catriona Gray

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TFC IN THE COMMUNITY

Photo Release

PIDC fundraiser with Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray generates Can$6k donation

for ABS-CBN Foundation International’s Bantay Bata program

The Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Toronto recently held a fundraising dinner for ABS-CBN Foundation International’s (AFI) Bantay Bata program (Child Watch). On hand to present the donation amount of Can$6,000 is special guest Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. ABS-CBN Canada Country Manager Kerwin Du (4th from right) received the donation on behalf of AFI. With Du are ABS-CBN Canada Marketing Head Rosary Escano (3rd from left) and Ad Sales Account Executive for Canada Doris Mutuc (1st from left), shown here with PIDC officers. The event was held at the InterContinental Toronto Centre. (Photo from PIDC Toronto)

For referral and further details, email Richard at Richard_Ariz_Lao@yahoo.com

For Miss Philippines Earth USA entry, download the attachment below, then email the Entry Form to Bradford at Bradford_Adkins@yahoo.com

Send email also to MissPhilippinesEarthUSA@yahoo.com or MissPhilippinesEarthUSAWestCoast@yahoo.com

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Magnayon and the surname or paternal family name is Gray.

Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray (born 6 January 1994) is a Filipino-Australianmodel, singer, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2018. She is the fourth Filipina to win the pageant. Previously, Gray was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and Miss World Philippines 2016. Referred to as one of the most popular Miss Universe, she has been lauded by press and supermodels for her creative and exemplary walk and personality.

Gray was born in Cairns, Queensland to a Scottish-born father, Ian Gray, from Fraserburgh, and a Filipina mother, Normita Ragas Magnayon, from Oas, Albay. Gray is reportedly named after her paternal grandmother, Catherine Gray (née Ross), an immigrant to Western Australia from Scotland in 1952 and Elsa Magnayon (née Ragas), her maternal grandmother from Oas, Albay, Philippines.

Gray was a student at Trinity Anglican School in Cairns where she was a house captain and a school chorister. She received a master's certificate in music theory from the online school of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, she obtained a certificate in outdoor recreation and a black belt in Choi Kwang-Do martial arts.Further, Gray was lead singer of her school's jazz band; she also starred in local productions of Miss Saigon. After graduating from high school, she moved to Manila where she worked as a commercial model.

Little Miss Philippines

Her foray into the world of pageantry began in 1999 when she won Little Miss Philippines in Sydney at the age of five.

Miss World

Miss World Philippines 2016

On 2 October 2016, Gray was crowned Miss World Philippines 2016 where she won the following special awards:

    • Best in Swimsuit

    • Best in Evening Gown

    • Best in Fashion Runway

    • Best in Talent

In addition, Gray won the following corporate endorsement awards:

    • Miss FIG Image Gateway

    • Miss Folded and Hung

    • Miss Hannah Beach Resort

    • Miss Figlia

    • Miss Manila Hotel

    • Miss Organique

Miss World 2016

After winning her national competition, Gray competed at Miss World 2016 held in MGM National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States where she was placed in the Top 5. Gray won the following awards:

    • Multimedia Award

    • Talent Award (2nd place)

    • Top 5 (Beauty with a Purpose project)

Miss Universe

Binibining Pilipinas 2018

Main article: Binibining Pilipinas 2018

On 8 January 2018, Gray submitted her application form at the Binibining Pilipinas office at the Araneta Center to officially join the 2018 national pageant. On 16 January 2018, national director Stella Araneta officially accepted her application and confirmed that Gray will be competing at the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant.

During her national costume competition, Gray wore a Muslim princess attire from the Mindanao region, taking placement as its winner. On 18 March 2018, she was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2018 by the outgoing titleholder Rachel Peters.

Gray obtained the following corporate and contest awards:

    • Best in National Costume Award

    • Best in Evening Gown

    • Best in Swimsuit

    • Miss Jag Denim Queen Award (Endorsement)

    • Miss Ever Bilena Cosmetics Award (Endorsement)

She also obtained the following popularity contest prizes:

In Philippine beauty pageant history, Gray is the first Filipina to represent the country in both the Miss World and Miss Universecompetitions, and the second to represent the Philippines in two major international pageants, the first entry being Carlene Aguilar in 2005.

At her national competition, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Yong Kim asked the following: "After the devastating war—Marawi is now on its way to recovery, what will be your message to the young women of Marawi?":

Gray: "...My answer and my message to the women is to be strong. As women, we're the head of the household and we have amazing influence, not only in our own families, as mothers, sisters and friends, but also in our community. If we could get the women to stay strong and be that image of strength for the children and the people around them, then once the rebuilding is complete and is underway, the morale of the community will stay strong and high..."

Miss Universe 2018

During the national costume show presentation, Gray showcased a beaded tribal suit featuring the indigenous tribes of the ancient pagan Filipinos, alongside an oversized Parol painted Christmas lantern pulled by a roller device. The costume was accompanied by a pre-Christian Shamanic dance of the historical Babaylanpaganism. The costume gained both support and criticism, due to the perceived difficulty of walking and the failure of LEDs to function, whilst Gray cited her Scoliosis ailment.

In the pageant's preliminary stages, Catriona Gray did a slow-motion walk, (nicknamed lava walk on the ramp in the swimwear competition wearing a pink swimsuit, which was praised by supermodels Tyra Banks and Ashley Graham, fashion commentators and Internet viewers.

Gray represented the Philippines in the 2018 Miss Universe contest on 17 December 2018 held at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. During the first question and answer round, Gray was asked by host Steve Harvey, "Canada recently joined Uruguay as the second nation in the world to make marijuana legal. What is your opinion on the legalization of marijuana?" She responded:

I’m for it being used for medical use, but not so for recreational use. Because I think if people were to argue: Then what about alcohol and cigarettes? Well, everything is good but in moderation.

In the final question and answer portion, the top three contestants were asked the same question by Harvey: "What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and how will you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?" She answered:

I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very... it's poor and it's very sad. And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it; to look in the beauty in the faces of the children, and to be grateful. And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining, and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And this I think if I could also teach people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children will have a smile on their faces.

At the end of the event, Gray won the competition and was crowned by her predecessor, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa. She is the fourth Filipina Miss Universe after Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973 and Pia Wurtzbach in 2015.