Catriona Gray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Catriona Gray
Gray in 2021
Born	Catriona Gray Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Education	Berklee College of Music
Occupation	Model singer television personality
Years active	1999–2001, 2006–present
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Title	Miss World Philippines 2016 Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Miss Universe 2018
Beauty pageant titleholder
Agency	Cornerstone Entertainment
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Miss World Philippines 2016 (Winner) Miss World 2016 (Top 5) Binibining Pilipinas 2018 (Winner – Miss Universe Philippines) Miss Universe 2018 (Winner)
Signature

Catriona Gray (English: /ˈkætrɪɔːnəˌ kɑːt-/ KAT-ree-AW-nə,-_-kaht-; Tagalog: [ˌkaːtɾiˈɔː.na]) is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder and media personality who was crowned Miss Universe 2018. The fourth Filipina to win Miss Universe, Gray was previously crowned Miss World Philippines 2016 and Miss Universe Philippines 2018, and reached the top five at Miss World 2016.

Following her reign as Miss Universe, Gray has worked as a television presenter and an ambassador for non-governmental organizations and projects.

Early life and education

Gray in a Filipiniana maria clara ensemble, for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

Gray in a Filipiniana baro't saya ensemble also for the NCCA, 2021

Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray was born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia to an Australian father of Scottish descent, Ian Gray, and a Filipino mother, Normita Ragas Magnayon, from Oas, Albay, Philippines. 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 graduate 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.

Gray is currently working with an organization Young Focus Philippines since May 2016. She is also a Love Yourself Philippines and Smile Train ambassador.

Pageantry

Miss World Philippines 2016

On 3 September 2017, Gray crowned Laura Lehmann as her successor at the Miss World Philippines 2017 pageant held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines.

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:

Gray concluded her Miss World journey by finishing as a Top 5 finalist. Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico won the said pageant.

Binibining Pilipinas 2018

On 8 January 2018, Gray submitted her application to Binibining Pilipinas to officially join the 2018 national pageant. 8 days later, Binibining 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 Mindanao 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:

• Best in National Costume
• 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
• Pizza Hut's Award 2018

In Philippine beauty pageant history, Gray is the first Filipino 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.

On 9 June 2019, Gray crowned Gazini Ganados as her successor at the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 pageant held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.

Miss Universe 2018

Gray returning to the Philippines after being crowned Miss Universe 2018

Gray represented the Philippines in the 2018 Miss Universe competition 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, (nicknamed lava walk, along with a slow-mo turn) 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. At the preliminary evening gown competition, she wore Mak Tumang's golden sweetheart gown with a thigh-high slit inspired by the Ibong Adarna and the Mikimoto crown.

At the coronation, Gray advanced to Top 20.

Gray advanced to Top 10. She wore a pink Sirivannavari bikini and a cape with gold-winged shoulder straps at the swimsuit competition. At the evening gown competition, she wore Mak Tumang's Mayon gown. The Mayon gown was made up of tulle encrusted with Swarovski crystals in 12-toned color palette that ranged from yellow to dark red. Its body-fitting, bare back design features a side cutout and a high slit that "highlighted Gray's legs". The dress, which according to Tumang weighed 10 pounds, was a tribute to Mayon Volcano, a tourist attraction in the province of Albay, the hometown of Gray's mother. In an interview, Gray decided to pick the gown for the beauty pageant as her mother dreamed of her winning the Miss Universe crown wearing a red dress.

Gray then advanced to Top 5.

Gray at a charity event in December 2018

Gray advanced to Top 3. 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 Filipino Miss Universe after Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, and Pia Wurtzbach in 2015. In addition, she is the second Biracial Filipina to win the Miss Universe title after Pia Wurtzbach in 2015.

On 20 December 2018, Gray made a courtesy call with President Rodrigo Duterte at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay.

On 22 January 2019, Gray traveled to Indonesia to shoot a commercial for C 1000, a vitamin brand available in Indonesia.

On 16 February 2019, Gray arrived in the Philippines for a week-long homecoming celebration with visits to the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay and Quezon City. However, on 23 February 2019, The feather of her Mikimoto Crown fell off during her homecoming parade in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. She also made courtesy calls to the Congress of the Philippines, Senate of the Philippines and Malacañang Palace.

On 16 September 2019, Gray became the first ever Filipino celebrity to be the included in the voice options on the Waze app that is made possible by BDO. However, it was discontinued on 6 December 2019 and was replaced by Mimiyuuuh, just 2 days before her reign ended.

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 5 December 2019, Gray attended the release of the new Mouawad Crown for the Miss Universe pageant, which is nicknamed Power of Unity, retiring the Mikimoto Crown.

In her capacity as Miss Universe, Gray visited Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, various cities and states across the United States, and her home country of the Philippines. She also visited Canada and United Arab Emirates to meet with her pageant sponsors and Filipino supporters.

On 8 December 2019, Gray crowned Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa as her successor at the 68th Miss Universe pageant at Tyler Perry Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Post-Miss Universe

Following her reign, Gray served as a judge on several national qualifying pageants for Miss Universe, having judged for the pageants in Colombia in 2020 and Vietnam in 2022. The latter pageant would receive backlash for introducing her as "Australian by birth" and misspelling her surname throughout the pageant. The national organization would issue an apology for their errors.

Entertainment career

In 2020, Gray was introduced as one of the presenters of the TV5 variety show Sunday Noontime Live!. Gray served as a backstage correspondent of the Miss Universe 2022 finals, alongside Zuri Hall. She reprised her role in 2023. Gray served as a local ambassador for the 2023 FIBA World Cup and participated in the final draw for the tournament.

Advocacy and issues

Gray in 2020, delivering a message during the launch of the National Arts Month led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Gray has advocated for women's rights, indigenous culture conservation, and the "One Town, One Product" (OTOP) project of the Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry. She has continued to pursue her women's rights advocacies despite some incidents when military officials attempted to pressure her into limiting her interactions with certain women's rights groups. Gray has been working with the organization Young Focus Philippines since May 2016. She is also a Love Yourself Philippines and Smile Train ambassador. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gray served as an ambassador of the Philippine Red Cross.

Ambassador for the Arts, and for Indigenous Handicrafts

In February 2020, the Philippines' National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) designated Catriona Gray as the agency's Ambassador for the Arts. Gray was named ambassador yet again in 2021, and was announced as host for "Kultura 101", an NCCA Web Series where Gray said she would "share [her] passion for aspects of Filipino culture whether it be our textiles, our dances, our food."

Gray was also named an Ambassador for Indigenous Handicrafts by the Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry in July 2020.

Parlade red-tagging incident

Gray responded strongly when she was drawn into the Philippines' Red-tagging issue, due to an incident in October 2020 when AFP Southern Luzon Command commander Antonio Parlade Jr. said that Gray and actress Liza Soberano should not support Gabriela and other rights groups, as fellow celebrity Angel Locsin has done, or they would be drawn into the activities of the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist New People's Army, and risk being killed in a clash with the army just like activists who had allegedly joined that group.

In response, Gray's lawyer Joji Alonso issued a statement saying Parlade's statements were "uncalled for" and affirmed that Gray would continue to advocate for social causes concerning women and will remain "steadfast in her stance that no one should be silenced in sharing their personal stories".

Bulgar cyber libel case

In September 2024, Gray won a cyber libel case against entertainment editor Janice Navida and writer Melba Llanera, both of whom work for the tabloid Bulgar. The case stemmed from her criminal complaint in July 21, 2020 centering on a falsified photographs of her on social media.

Personal life

Gray was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of twelve but was not able to secure a back brace treatment for her condition. She revealed her experiences with scoliosis with a video commemorating National Scoliosis Month in 2024. Gray is a Christian and was rebaptized in 2024.

Gray was in a relationship with Filipino-German actor and model Clint Bondad from 2012 to until they separated on 2019. On May 23, 2020, Gray revealed her relationship with Filipino-American actor, Sam Milby. Gray announced her engagement with Milby on February 16, 2023.

In August 2024, Gray lost her passports and family's belongings in a robbery incident during her vacation in London.

Impact

In March 2022, a wax figure of herself was unveiled in Madame Tussauds Singapore, making her the third Filipino to have such replica made by Madame Tussauds, after Pia Wurtzbach and Manny Pacquiao.

Discography

Singles

Filmography

Television

Radio

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Catriona Gray para niños

• Gloria Diaz
• Margie Moran
• Pia Wurtzbach
• Binibining Pilipinas
• Philippines at Major Beauty Pageants