4 Philippine Showbiz Today
December 22 , 2018 - January 7, 2019
Headline News
Miss Universe 2018: Miss
Philippines Catriona Gray,
back home for a short visit
Catriona Gray from the
Philippines claimed the Miss
Universe crown for 2018 on
Monday, beating contestants from
94 countries in the 67th edition of
the beauty pageant that was held
in Bangkok on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Filipina-
Australian has become the fourth
Filipina to bring home the coveted
title.
Miss Universe 2018 Winner,
Catriona Gray entered her first
pageant at the age of 5 and
moved to the United States to
study where she pursued music
at the Berklee College of Music,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Becoming the fourth Filipino
woman to win the crown, the 24-
year old received her crown from
last year’s winner Demi-Leigh
Nel-Peters of South Africa. The
‘Top 5’ who proceeded to
the Q&A section of the event
included Catriona
Gray (Miss
Philippines), Kiara Ortega (Miss
Puerto Rico), Tamaryn Green (Miss
South Africa), Sthefany Gutierrez
(Miss Venezuela) and H’Hen Nie
(Miss Vietnam).
The winner was chosen by an
all-female panel of judges which
included
Colombian-American
CEO Liliana Gil Valletta, Janaye
Ingram, fashion designer Monique
Lhuillier, former Miss Universe
winners Michelle McLean and Bui
Simon, Iman Oubou, and Richelle
Singson-Michael.
The pageant was hosted by
Steve Harvey for the third straight
year and model Ashley Graham at
the Impact Arena in Bangkok,
Thailand. The global event also
featured Grammy-winning RnB
artist Ne-Yo performance. This
year’s pageant was praised for its
inclusivity and diversity. Spain’s
Angela Ponce made history as the
pageant’s first openly transgender
contestant, and Rosa Montezuma
represented Panama as its
first indigenous Miss Universe
contestant.
Arrives in The Philippines
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona
Gray gave out a Christmas
message to her fellow Filipinos
upon her return to the country on
Wednesday.
Speaking with reporters after
arriving via private jet at the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport, Gray
said she hopes more Filipinos will
“get into the spirit of giving this
Christmas.”
Open up your heart to
your neighbors, to a cause, to a
charity near you,” said Gray, who
was reunited with some of the
beneficiaries of her Tondo-based
charity house, Young Focus
Philippines, upon her arrival.
“Because Christmas should
be enjoyed by all no matter where
you are, no matter where you’re
from, what you have. It really is a
time for family and forgiving,” she
added.
Gray’s return to Manila will
only be a short visit for private
engagements.
Her official homecoming,
which traditionally includes a
motorcade and TV appearances,
has yet to be arranged.
When asked where she
will celebrate Christmas, the
Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe
winner replied: “Di ko alam pa.
As long as I’m with my family,
masaya ako.”
Gray is expected to be based
in New York to fulfill her duties
as Miss Universe just like her
predecessors, which include her
compatriot, Pia Wurtzbach.●
- ABS-CBN, CNN Phil.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray (left), fondly called Ate Cat, has been helping support some of
Tondo’s poor children to go to school through the Young Focus International Foundation.