Philippines’ Catriona Gray Wins Miss Universe 2018

On Monday, December 16th, the 2018 Miss Universe pageant took place with 94 contestants. Steve Harvey came back to host the 67th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme of this year’s competition was “Empowered Woman.” The panel of judges consisted of seven women who are fashion designers, former beauty pageant winners and businesswoman.

Miss Philippines’ Catriona Gray and South Africa’s Tamaryn Green went head-to-head to compete for the first and second place. Catriona Gray ended up being announced as the winner of the Miss Universe title. Miss Venezuela, Sthefany Gutierrez, went home as the third-place candidate.

Catriona Gray is a 24-year old, half-Filipina, half-Scottish model and beauty contestant who grew up in Australia. She went to college in Boston, Massachusetts and majored in music theory. Her specialty is singing and dancing.

At the show, Gray dazzled the Miss Universe stage wearing a beautiful, elegant red dress in which she took inspiration for from a red volcano located in the Philippines.

“When I was 13, my mom said she had a dream that I would win Miss Universe in a red dress,” Gray said.

Her mom was brought to tears seeing her after she won.

Steve Harvey went on to ask Gray a question corresponding to her talent in music: “If you were going to write a song about your experience here at Miss Universe, what would you call it?”

“As Miss Philippines I’ve always felt the love and support of the Filipino people and I think I brought half of my country here tonight,” she responded. “I would name the song ‘Raise Your Flag’ because I stand here not as one but as 104 million Filipinos!”

This makes Catriona Gray the fourth Filipina to win the pageant, an impressive accomplishment for the Philippines.

Click here for more information on Miss Universe 2018.