Catriona Gray is Miss Universe 2018!

Philippine bet Catriona Gray is the new Miss Universe!

Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters relinquished her crown to Catriona in Thailand on Monday, December 17 (PHL time).

Miss Philippines Catriona Gray is crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Catriona is the fourth Filipina to be hailed as Miss Universe queen after Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Gloria Diaz (1969) and Margarita Moran (1973).

Miss Venezuela finished as 2nd runner-up, while Miss South Africa, 1st runner-up.

Catriona gracefully took the stage in her final walk clad in a red evening gown designed by Mak Tumang who also designed her dress in the preliminary.

In her Final Word, Catriona was asked what the most important lesson she's learned in her life. Cat answered:

I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very…poor and it’s very sad. And I've always taught myself to look for the beauty in it. To look in the beauty in the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I would bring this aspect as a miss universe to see situations with a silver lining and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson and this I think, if I could teach people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children could have a smile on their faces.

Miss Philippines Catriona Gray waves after being crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

During the Top 5 Q&A, Cat was asked her thoughts about the legalization of medical  marijuana, to which she said:

"I am for being used in a medical use, but not so for recreational use because I think if people were to argue, what about alcohol and cigarettes? Everything is good but in moderation."

Cat has been a strong contender early in the pageant. When she did her slow-mo twirl, she cemented her position as a crowd favorite with super model Tyra Banks expressing her awe. 

During the coronation night, Cat once again did her signature twirl, which prompted pageant commentator Carson Kressley to gasp his admiration.

"Oh wow, a slow-mo turn! And then she goes on into giving us great face that great attitude. She’s killing the game here," Carson quipped.

Before joining Miss Universe, Cat tried her luck in the 2016 Miss World competition, where she finished in the Top 5.

Congratulations, Cat! All hail! — LA, GMA News