BANGKOK – Miss Universe 2018 grand finale was held on Monday (yesterday) in Bangkok, Thailand and Catriona Gray from Phillippines has won the crown, marking the fourth time the title has gone to a South Asian country.
Gray, a 24-year-old Filipino-Australian model expressed her happiness after winning the crown saying: “My heart is filled with so much gratitude. There were moments of doubt where I felt overwhelmed and I felt the pressure”. Catriona wore a red and orange dress that was inspired by Mount Mayon, a volcano that erupted this year.
Gray was asked during the contest about her views on legalizing marijuana and replied that she supported it for medical uses:
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After she was crowned, Gray told reporters the question was “definitely relevant” and “an active topic”, in an apparent reference to the war on drugs in the Philippines that has killed thousands of Filipinos and caused international alarm.
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Gray also shared that working in a Manila slum had taught her to find beauty in difficult situations.
“If I could teach people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their face,” she said. Miss South Africa, Tamaryn Green, 24 was the first runner-up, followed by Miss Venezuela, Sthefany Gutiérrez, 19.
Also for the very first time, Miss Universe beauty pageant made history as the first transgender contestant Angela Ponce, 27 took part in the 66-year-old pageant.
Gray is the fourth Filipina to win Miss Universe and the second in three years. The pageant was shown live on the country’s biggest television network and dominated social media.
The Philippines previously won Miss Universe titles in 2015, 1973 and 1969.
