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January 13, 2019
Life has been a whirlwind for Catriona Gray since being crowned Miss Universe last month in Bangkok, Thailand. After a quick pit stop in the Philippines to spend time with her family for the holidays, the country’s newest queen jetted off to New York City to begin her reign.
Jessica Soho caught up with Catriona in the Big Apple for a sitdown interview. The veteran broadcast journalist spoke to the Miss Universe about fulfilling her childhood dream, her plans as the titleholder, the issues that have cropped up after her victory, and the love of Filipino fans.
Jessica Soho: First of all, Catriona, thank you very much para sa interview na ito.
Catriona Gray: Oo, it's so nice to be able to sit down with you because I know last time that we saw each other, we were like saving it for this date.
How are you as a Miss Universe? Ano ang sa tingin mo ay kahulugan ng iyong korona at ng iyong title? At ano ang iyong paninindigan bilang Miss Universe? What do you stand for a Miss Universe?
I wanna be a spokesperson, but now, I’m so blessed to be given such a wider and larger audience because being an advocate, being a spokesperson has really been the core of being a Miss Philippines and in my life for the last three years. So being able to continue to do what I love, but to be able to reach more people, that’s what a Miss Universe is for me and that’s what this year will represent.
You have this Instagram post that's very interesting...
Which one?
Where you proudly showed your ‘tiger stripes’ or ‘yung iyong stretch marks. E ‘di ba we usually hide those? Sa ‘yo OK lang?
Which should be OK, shouldn’t it? I mean, every woman has flaws or they’re not really flaws, but they just make us natural, it’s what we have as woman. And I think it’s refreshing for people to see that, for young girls to look up and see, “Oh! She has tiger stripes too,” you know. “Why should I feel like I need to hide them? Why do I not feel like I’m confident in them? I should be.” And that’s the kind of dialogue I wanna start.
That was nice.
Yeah. I mean, who doesn’t have... right? It’s a part of being a woman.
But it’s hard to believe na meron kang flaws, huh? You’re so beautiful.
I’m a regular person just like anyone else.
Sabi ng friends mo actually foodie ka raw.
Yes!
Mahilig kumain.
Super!
Ang sabi ko naman, “Nasaan ang pruweba?” It doesn’t show.
Kasi 5'10" ako so at least it spread evenly.
Life’s not fair, ‘yun lang masasabi ko. But another question that I want to ask... is sabi nila sa lahat daw ng kumandidata na Miss Philippines sa Miss Universe, you are the most prepared. Ikaw raw ‘yung pinakahanda, as in you studied, you researched. Kinarir mo talaga...
Yeah, I mean that’s my job as a Miss Philippines. I was crowned in March so that’s what, nine months to prepare... so I evenly spaced it out, it wasn’t an excruciating schedule but maybe once a week I will make a plan, an action plan to work backwards from when the competition will be so that I would not be overwhelmed ‘cause... the last thing I wanna do is leave everything up to last minute, and then I’ll be stressed or be rushing ‘cause I wanna represent the Philippines in the best way that I can and I believe that that’s done by being prepared.
Pero grabe raw ‘yung scoliosis mo e, so how were you able to do all those lava walks and slow-mo twirls?
I feel like it was blown out of proportion a little bit. Yes, I have scoliosis, yes it causes me discomfort, but that’s all. It has never made me cry, it has never put me in excruciating pain and I’ve never seen it as a barrier to what I wanna pursue and what I want to do.... so it’s just a part that makes me unique. It’s something that I’ve had or diagnosed with at 12 years old and it only causes me mild discomfort, that’s all.
You’re beautiful. You’re smart.
Thank you.
You’re sexy, and they also say you’re nerdy. Deadly combination, if I may say, deadly combination ‘yun ha?
I think they call me nerdy because I do like all my presentations on Powerpoint, I like to write out my notes, I’m a note taker, that’s just because growing up I was very academic, I was very studious and I read a lot.
You’re diligent.
Yeah.
And watch out, blackbelter din sa martial arts.
Yes! Yes, I am at the age of 12.
So as in you can knock somebody down?
I mean, that’s not that point of martial arts, it’s more about being able to defend yourself and having that confidence in your character that if the situation were to ever arise, that you could defend yourself, and that’s all I’ve seen, I’ve never seen it as a like “Don’t mess with me.” But yeah, it’s just something that really build up my confidence as a kid. I never experienced bullying and I feel like that was the big part of that.
So huwag silang loloko-loko ‘no?
Siyempre!
You make it all look so easy, but what people probably don’t know is it wasn’t an easy climb to the top for you.
No, of course not, and I think it never is. People like to see and judge it from a perception or what they see in the media, the glitz and the glam, and “Oh! There she is!” “Oh! There she has the crown!” but they don’t see the months of work behind it. The people that have helped me along this journey. I have a whole team of people who helped me do what I do. So yeah, I think that’s just what people don’t see.
At naranasan mo na ring matalo, ‘di ba, sa Miss World? Pero lahat ‘yun baon mo, of course?
I feel like... I feel like everything happened for a reason. And throughout that journey, I did learn so much. I learned... you know, I had that experience of being in an international pageant... So of course, going into my next pageant... it didn’t feel like I was a deer in headlights anymore, like I kind of had an idea how it work, what to expect and I definitely think that was a little bit of an advantage.
Sorry to bring this up pero may mga Australian na ang tingin nila nanalo daw si Miss Queensland o si Miss Australia.
I saw, yes.
There’s actually this one newspaper na nagsabi...
Nakita ko.
“Nanalo si Miss Queensland or Miss Australia.”
Yes, I saw.
Anong reaction mo du’n?
I think they’re just excited and I know a lot of people got very offended. But I think, everyone’s spirits are very high, it’s a holiday season and you know, in a way, my childhood was being an Australian. I did... I was born and grew up there. So I don’t think it’s the worst... the way that they did it medyo ano, with the crossing out, I don’t really agree with that. But, I think they do have a right to be proud and excited and a part of the celebration. I don’t wanna withhold that from them.
Pero Miss Philippines ka eh...
Exactly.
‘Di ba?
No, but what I’m saying is like the way that they did it wasn’t right, but why not let them be a part of the celebration?
That’s nice.
Yeah.
Isa pa, ‘yung nag-criticize du’n sa ‘yo ng sagot sa Q&A as romanticizing poverty daw, do you care to comment about that?
I was not romanticizing poverty because I’ve seen it with my own eyes... and if you look at the answer, my first sentence says, it’s very sad and it’s very poor, I’m not saying that it’s beautiful there. So if you look at my answer in the context of looking at the first sentence, it does not romanticize poverty because I start from that point. And you know, there is nothing beautiful about poverty, but in the people that you talked to, the teachers that I’ve met, the children who I’ve heard their stories of, and the families that I’ve heard their stories of, there is something beautiful about their spirit, their will, their determination and that’s what I was referring to.
Acknowledging her popularity among the sambekihan, Catriona Gray had a short and sweet message thanking them for the love:
“Mahal ko kayo bekimae or beshiemaes, I love you guys so much.
Thank you for all the support, for being sobrang passionate and always supporting me to be bongga and fabulous, and you know... to also teaching me about what it’s like to really be true to yourself and that’s something that you’ve always imparted on me and I can’t wait to meet you all when I come back home.
I love you guys!”
You’ve been wearing a lot of local touches sa ‘yong mga damit dito sa New York.
Yes! I actually have one today. I feel like this is Ifugao... Ifugao fabric and yeah, it makes me proud. I do love our fabrics, our textiles, our symbolism and our culture. So many people have garnered interest just from what I’m wearing?
Ah talaga?
Yeah, and I mean it’s a different approach to sharing our culture or our... what we have to offer through outfits. Some people might think, "It’s just fashion." But it opens up a conversation, “Oh! I didn’t know that Philippines has that kind of fabric. I didn’t know that they have that to offer.” And I love seeing comments like that. It makes me feel fulfilled because that is part of some people’s livelihoods. And if I could share that and they could be have generated interest and people would be interest in getting their own products, I think that would be wonderful.
You’re wowing them, huh? Here in New York, and you’re showing Philippine textiles here?
Yeah.
That’s so nice of you.
Thank you. It’s something I’m very proud to do.
Kamusta naman? You got here January 2...
2.
So it’s been a week almost?
Yeah. I think I’m on my fifth day. What is it today? The 8th?
Yeah, the 8th so not even a week.
Six days and I’ve even spent my birthday here. It’s just been amazing. The Miss Universe organization has made the adjustment feel very smooth, they really looked after me. I moved into my apartment and it’s a beautiful location, I can look out the window and see Central Park...
Wow!
And I’ve already seen Broadway and...
You’re living the life, girl, huh?
Right! I pinch myself every morning, I’m like, “Oh my gosh! I’m here.”
Halika, kurutin kita. Pakurot para maniwala ka kasi you said na, “Somebody pinch me." Kasi you can’t believe that you’re here so I pinch you again.
Ay sige!
It’s true! Totoo.
Totoo ‘to! Oo, ‘cause it’s just you know, this is what everyone dreams of. As a Miss Universe participant, this is the dream that 94 of us is grasping for. And I feel so grateful that I’m able to realize it and that I’m here in New York City.
Wow! Congratulations again.
Thank you.
Catriona, hingan naman kita ng message sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ‘yung mga follower mo sa Instagram, you’re four million now and ‘yung mga fans mo rin.
Grabe! As in I’m just like, oh my goodness! Yeah, like three million in what? A matter of weeks, it’s really overwhelming, but maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng supporters that I have from the Philippines, from other countries, you guys have this journey such a fulfilling one. You are the reason that I stepped to the doors of Binibini on Day One. And to see you carry me through this journey every step of the way, I couldn’t have done it without you. Mahal ko kayo sobra sobra. Thank you so much.
Anong feeling mo na ‘yung mga bata ikaw na ngayon ang ginagaya? Ina-idolize.
You know, like it’s nothing that I never expected. Even the lava walk and the slo-mo turn. And you know, all of those things that have become like a phenomenon... with the past month, it’s something that I never thought to happen. But it’s just... it’s overwhelming.
Did you know na-sold out ‘yung ano mo, ‘yung mga earcuffs mo?
I know, I saw... It’s just... I’m just overwhelmed by all the support in all the aspects, you know like yeah, ang daming blessings.
Congratulations! You deserve it.
Thank you. I saw your segment when you interviewed my team. It was so well-done, thank you.
Thank you. We know Justine.
Yes! Mama Justine. No, but I love that you guys highlighted them because like I couldn’t have done what I did without them, you know? It really does take a village.
I know, it takes a barangay.
Especially Kuya Caloy, my runway coach.
Yeah, grabe siya.
I mean, everyone contributed but he really is the one that I could say that if I didn’t have him, I wouldn’t be Miss Universe, I promise. Like he’s been with me for 3 years almost.
I told them it speaks very highly of you that you have this many friends who just went out of their way to help you out of love.
But we really did create a family through it, you know? Like everyone became friends with each other, we get together just to eat.
May surprise pa kami, last na.
Oh!
Birthday mo nu’ng Sunday so meron kaming cake para sa‘yo.
Cake? Oh my God!
Wow! Thank you! It’s blue! Thank you.
Make a wish.
Thank you!
Pwede malaman kung anong winish mo?
To have the best year ever.
Oh yes! You will have that I’m sure. Thank you, Catriona.
Thank you so much.
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