Published 17 December 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Miss Universe 2018: Catriona Gray, from the Philippines, claims crown as first transgender contestant fails to make top 20
BANGKOK — The Philippines’ Catriona Gray was named Miss Universe 2018 on Monday, besting contestants from 93 other countries and delighting her home nation.
Gray wore a sparkling red dress she said was inspired by a volcano in the Philippines as she was handed the crown to the delight of a roaring crowd in Bangkok that generally favored Southeast Asian contestants.
The 24-year-old singer and model said she wore red because “when I was 13 my mom said she had a dream that I would win Miss Universe in a red dress.” She said her mom cried when they saw each other after she won the competition, the 67th Miss Universe pageant.
Gray edged out first runner-up Tamaryn Green of South Africa and third-place Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela. She succeeds Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa.
“My heart is filled with so much gratitude,” Gray said. “There were moments of doubt where I felt overwhelmed and I felt the pressure.”
Gray’s father is Australian, and she was born and grew up in Cairns, Australia. She studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Gray said during the pageant 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.
