Catriona Gray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catriona Gray
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Gray in 2021
|
|
| Born |
Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray
January 6, 1994 Cairns, Queensland, Australia
|
| Education | Berklee College of Music |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active |
|
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Title |
|
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Agency | Cornerstone Entertainment |
| Major competition(s) |
|
| Signature | |
 |
|
Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray is a famous Filipino beauty queen and media personality. She is best known for winning the title of Miss Universe 2018. She was the fourth Filipina to win Miss Universe. Before this, Catriona was crowned Miss World Philippines 2016 and Miss Universe Philippines 2018. She also reached the top five at Miss World 2016.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray was born on January 6, 1994, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Her father, Ian Gray, is Australian with Scottish roots. Her mother, Normita Ragas Magnayon, is Filipino from Oas, Albay, Philippines.
Catriona went to Trinity Anglican School in Cairns. She was a leader there and sang in the school choir. She studied music theory at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She also earned a black belt in Choi Kwang-Do martial arts. Catriona was the lead singer of her school's jazz band. She also acted in local plays like Miss Saigon. After high school, she moved to Manila to work as a model.
Catriona Gray works with Young Focus Philippines, an organization that helps children. She is also an ambassador for Love Yourself Philippines and Smile Train.
Pageant Journey
Catriona Gray has competed in several major beauty pageants.
Miss World Philippines 2016
Catriona won the Miss World Philippines 2016 title. This allowed her to represent the Philippines in the Miss World competition.
Miss World 2016
After winning in the Philippines, Catriona competed in Miss World 2016 in the United States. She made it to the Top 5 finalists. Stephanie Del Valle from Puerto Rico won the pageant that year.
Binibining Pilipinas 2018
In 2018, Catriona joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant. This competition chooses representatives for Miss Universe and other international contests.
During the national costume show, Catriona wore a beautiful Muslim princess outfit from Mindanao. She won the award for Best National Costume. On March 18, 2018, she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018.
Catriona won several awards during this pageant:
- Best in National Costume
- Best in Evening Gown
- Best in Swimsuit
She was the first Filipino to represent the country in both the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions.
Miss Universe 2018
Catriona Gray represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2018 competition in Thailand.
During the national costume show, she wore a special outfit. It featured designs from ancient Filipino tribes and a large Christmas lantern called a Parol. She also performed a traditional dance.
In the swimsuit competition, Catriona did a unique "lava walk" in a pink swimsuit. This walk became very famous and was praised by supermodels like Tyra Banks. For the evening gown competition, she wore a golden gown inspired by the Ibong Adarna, a mythical bird.
Catriona made it to the Top 20, then Top 10, and then Top 5. For the final evening gown competition, she wore the "Mayon gown." This red gown was covered in Swarovski crystals. It was a tribute to Mayon Volcano in Albay, her mother's home province. Her mother had dreamed of Catriona winning Miss Universe in a red dress.
Finally, Catriona Gray won the competition and was crowned Miss Universe 2018! She is the fourth Filipino Miss Universe, following Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015).
After winning, Catriona visited many countries as Miss Universe. These included Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, and various cities in the United States. She also visited Canada and the United Arab Emirates. On December 8, 2019, she crowned Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa as her successor.
After Miss Universe
After her reign, Catriona Gray has been a judge for Miss Universe qualifying pageants in countries like Colombia and Vietnam. She also worked as a backstage reporter for the Miss Universe 2022 and Miss Universe 2023 finals. Catriona was also an ambassador for the 2023 FIBA World Cup basketball tournament.
Advocacy and Impact
Catriona Gray is a strong supporter of women's rights and preserving Filipino culture. She promotes the "One Town, One Product" (OTOP) project, which helps local businesses in the Philippines. She has continued to work with Young Focus Philippines since 2016. She is also an ambassador for Love Yourself Philippines and Smile Train. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped the Philippine Red Cross.
Ambassador for the Arts and Indigenous Handicrafts
In 2020, the Philippines' National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) named Catriona Gray as their Ambassador for the Arts. She was given this role again in 2021. She also hosts "Kultura 101," a web series where she shares her love for Filipino culture, including textiles, dances, and food.
In 2020, she was also named an Ambassador for Indigenous Handicrafts by the Department of Trade and Industry. This role helps promote traditional Filipino crafts.
Personal Life
Catriona Gray was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was twelve years old. She has shared her experiences with this condition. Catriona is a Christian.
She was in a relationship with actor Clint Bondad from 2012 to 2019. On May 23, 2020, she shared that she was in a relationship with Filipino-American actor Sam Milby. They announced their engagement on February 16, 2023.
In March 2022, a wax figure of Catriona Gray was revealed at Madame Tussauds Singapore. She is the third Filipino to have a wax figure there, after Pia Wurtzbach and Manny Pacquiao.
Images for kids
-
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
-
Gray at a charity event in December 2018
See also
- Gloria Diaz
- Margie Moran
- Pia Wurtzbach
- Binibining Pilipinas
- Philippines at Major Beauty Pageants
