Catriona Gray's Final Word at the Miss Universe 2018 Q&A

One of Catriona Gray's weapons at the 68th Miss Universe on Monday is her intelligence put in full display during Q&A portions of the pageant in Thailand.

In the Final Word portion of the pageant — the Q&A of the Top 3 candidates — Catriona was asked what the most important lesson she's learned in her life.

Contestants selected for the top 3 are pictured during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. From L-R: Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez, Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green and Miss Philippines Catriona Gray. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Her answer:

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.

Catriona Gray did her 'lava walk' clad in a glimmering red slit gown, wearing the winning ear cuff "Three Stars and the Sun" during the Evening Gown portion. 

She also  did the iconic slow-mo show-stopping twirl as she graced the stage during the swimsuit portion clad in a one-piece pink swimsuit.

The Filipino-Australian beauty queen had a captivating performance both at the swimsuit and evening gown competition. 

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