CATRIONA ELISA MAGNAYON GRAY

                       
      CATRIONA ELISA MAGNAYON GRAY 

Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray (born 6 January 1994) is a Filipino-Australian model, stage actress, singer, visual artist,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 2018.

Gray was born in Caims, Queensland to a Scottish-born father, Ian Gray, from Fraseburgh, 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.

Miss Universe

Bibining 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:

• Dairy Queen's Award (First Prize)
• Pizza Hut's Award 2018

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?".

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.

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 Thaniin 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.

OPINION:

             For me Catriona Gray is the best Miss Universe Philippines,actually i really like Pia Wurtzbach too because even though she doesn't won at a first place in Binibining Pilipinas she still pursue her dreams to get the crown.I cannot reiterate enough how hard work get you where you want to go.Thank you for being a living example to that. i've been hearing stories of how much of yourself you poured into your dream,from people you work with.From planning to execution,you gave it all! Thank you for waving our flag for us.The whole universe watched you with smiles on their faces.Thank you for bringing the crown back.

source: www.wikipedia.com