- The 67th Miss Universe Catriona Gray kicked-off her reign via guesting on two US TV shows—Good Morning America and Live Kelly and Ryan, yesterday.
- She was crowned in Bangkok, Thailand succeeding Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa.
- The beauty queen from the Philippines recently celebrated her birthday on January 6.
After a short Christmas break and as she soon as she arrived in New York, New York on January 2; and right after her birthday (January 6)—Catriona Gray, the fourth Miss Universe from the Philippines officially began her duties via her guesting in two US television shows—Good Morning America and Live Kelly and Ryan, on January 7.
She donned a yellow dress with ponytail hair, she looked radiantly gorgeous inside and out as the host of Good Morning America—Ginger Zee described her.
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Gray was first asked about her mother’s prophetic vision that she would be crowned Miss Universe. In her previous interviews, she shared that her mother Normita Magnayon once dreamt of her winning the prestigious beauty pageant in a red gown—the color the 25-year-old wore to the Miss Universe finals night in Bangkok in December.
She replied, “When I was 13, and she first told me, I thought nothing of it. I was young, I didn’t really have that interest in pageants yet, but to see it come into fruition, I was just like, ‘Mum, are you hiding anything else about my future? I want to know!”
Further on, when Zee inquired about her advocacy, she discussed her being passionate about helping children in impoverished areas in Tondo, Manila.
Gray was quick to reply, “In the Philippines, I work with an organization called Young Focus, and what they do is they give access to quality education which, without NGOs like, those kids might never realize the dream of having an education and developing a love for learning’.”
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While in the Live Kelly and Ryan show, both hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest asked how she spent her birthday.
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“It’s like I’m having a celebration all week. I saw Broadway, I had a bit of a food trip and listened to Hill Songs.”
She was also asked how her mom have predicted her win, but this time they focused on the exact red gown she wore that finals. Gray described her gown as inspired by her native hometown in Albay where a perfect cone of Mayon Volcano sits.
When that part of the Philippines was mentioned, the studio audience burst into a roar applause; revealing that they are her Filipino fans.
The newly-crowned her Filipino fans as: “Filipino fans are the best fans in the world. And this whole journey has been amazing.”
She described her passion for helping less fortunate children get education, as she told the two hosts, “I really believe that education is transformative. Something that you can give to a chaild or to a person that can never be taken away from them, which is why I am so passionate about it.
“So I worked with an organization Young Focus Philippines and they work together to give access to quality education from impoverished areas. These kids, without NGOs like that might not ever experience going to school; experiencing the love for learning which at the end of the day–it’s really what can pull a family out of poverty.”
Prior to winning the Miss Universe crown, she won her first beauty pageant when she was still nine years of age via Little Miss Philippines. She also competed in the Miss World 2016, where she settled only in Top Five. Last year, she gave it a try to join Binibining Piilipinas and eventually clinched the title Miss Universe-Philippines.
