Catriona Gray


Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray is a Filipino-Australian model, singer, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2018. She is the fourth Filipina to win the Miss Universe competition. Previously, Gray was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and Miss World Philippines 2016.

Early life and education

Gray was born in Cairns, Queensland, to an Australian father of Scottish descent, Ian Gray, and a Filipina mother, Normita Ragas Magnayon, from Oas, Albay. Gray is reportedly named after her paternal grandmother, Catherine Gray, an immigrant to Western Australia from Scotland in 1952 and Elsa Magnayon, 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 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. Furthermore, 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.

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.
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:
In addition, Gray won the following corporate endorsement awards:
During the Top 12 question and answer round she was asked, "When you get up in the morning and look in the mirror, what do you see?", she answered:
During the final question and answer round all the five finalist were asked the same question, "Why should you be Miss World Philippines 2016?", Gray answered:

Miss World 2016

After winning the 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:
During the question and answer portion, she was asked by the reigning Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna, "Which qualities do you think it will take to wear my crown?", she answered:

Miss Universe

Binibining Pilipinas 2018

On 8 January 2018, Gray submitted her application to Binibining Pilipinas to officially join the 2018 national pageant. Eight days later, Binibing Pilipinas national director Stella Araneta confirmed that Gray will be officially competing at the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant.
During the national costume competition, Gray wore a Muslim princess attire from the Mindanao region and bagged the national costume award. 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:
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 Universe competitions, and the second to represent the Philippines in two major international pageants, the first 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?":

Miss Universe 2018

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 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.
In the pageant's preliminary stages, Catriona Gray did a slow-motion 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.
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.
In beauty pageant history, Gray is the most successful Asian pageant crossover by placing high in both biggest international beauty pageants, Miss World and Miss Universe competitions, becoming the only pageant contestant in the 21st century to have made the Top 5 in both Miss World and Miss Universe, and eventually win either of the world's biggest pageants.
On 17 October 2019, Gray attended the 2019 Latin Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood and Highlands in Los Angeles, California where she presented the 2019 "Canción Favorita – Tropical" award for the song "Adicto" to Marc Anthony and Prince Royce.
On 8 December 2019, Gray crowned Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa as her successor at the 2019 Miss Universe competition at Tyler Perry Studios, in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States.
In her capacity as Miss Universe, Gray visited Brazil, Canada, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, various cities and states across the United States, and her home country of the Philippines.

Personal life

On 23 May 2020, it was revealed that Gray is in a relationship with Filipino-American actor, Sam Milby.

Discography

Singles

Awards and nominations