Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray (born 6 January 1994) is a Filipino-

Australian model, 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[1] and Miss World Philippines 2016.[2]

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External links Early life and education
Gray was born in Cairns, Queensland[3] to a Scottish-born father, Ian
Gray, from Fraserburgh, and a Filipina mother, Normita Ragas
Magnayon, from Oas, Albay.[4] Gray is reportedly named after her
paternal grandmother, Catherine Gray (née Ross), an immigrant to
Western Australia from Scotland in 1952[5] 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.[6][7] She received a
master's certificate in music theory from the online school of Berklee
College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.[8] In addition, she
obtained a certificate in outdoor recreation and a black belt in Choi
Kwang-Do martial arts.[9] 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.[10]
Pageantry
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.[11]

Gray at the NFL Honours in Atlanta, GA, February 2019.

Miss World
Miss World Philippines 2016
On 2 October 2016, Gray was crowned Miss World Philippines 2016
where she won the following special awards:[12]
• Best in Swimsuit
• Best in Evening Gown
• Best in Fashion Runway
• Best in Talent[13]
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[14]
• Talent Award (2nd place)[14]
• Top 5 (Beauty with a Purpose project)[14]
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.[15] 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.[16][17]
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)[18][19]
She also obtained the following popularity contest prizes:
• Dairy Queen's Award (First Prize)[20][self-published source?]
• Pizza Hut's Award 2018[21][additional citation(s) needed]
In Philippine beauty pageant history, Gray is the first Filipina to
represent the country in both the Miss World and Miss Universe
competitions, 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?":[16]
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

Gray returning to the Philippines after being crowned 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 Babaylan paganism. 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.[16][22][23]
In the pageant's preliminary stages, Catriona Gray did a slow-motion
walk, (nicknamed lava walk[24]) on the ramp in the swimwear
competition wearing a pink swimsuit, which was praised by
supermodels Tyra Banks and Ashley Graham,[25] fashion
commentators and Internet viewers.[26][27]
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?"[28] 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.[29]
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.[29]
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.[28][30]