Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe 2018 on 18th March 2018 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. She is the fourth Filipina to win the Miss Universe competition. She has a lot to say about how her mixed heritage, deep appreciation of the Filipino culture and personal journey have helped her earn the fourth Miss Universe crown for the Philippines. In an unprecedented way, she is perhaps the most zealous Filipina beauty queen to ever join the Miss Universe competition.

Before becoming Miss Universe, Catriona was already passionate about helping the poor and under-privileged. Though growing up she never experienced poverty firsthand, the budding philanthropist admitted that she has a soft spot for Filipino children. She still wants to keep working for the same causes.

Miss Universe Organization got together with the former Miss Universe queen before she passed her crown to Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa, and had a quick chat with her. The organization put up the video on their official Facebook page recently. So, let’s check out Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray talking about her dreams, ambitions, her reign and much more.

Q: What does having confidence take?

Catriona: Confidence is like a muscle that you have to choose to use and the more that you use it the easier it gets.

Q: How do you pay it forward or give back?

Catriona: It’s about getting involved in your community whatever that may look like. It might be just volunteering your time or putting together an awareness campaign whatever you feel you can contribute.

Q: What advice would you give the next Miss Universe?

Catriona: My advice for my brand-new sister is congratulations. I can’t wait to see what you will do with this year and how you will contribute back to the people.

Q: What do people say when they find out you’re Miss Universe?

Catriona: They usually look for the gown or the crown and ask why I’m not wearing it.

Q: What was the highlight of your year?

Catriona: The highlight of my year was the different organizations I got to work with. That’s the most fulfilling thing.

Q: What does ambition mean to you?

Catriona: Ambition, I really believe that we have a dream in our heart for a reason. For me ambition is going after that no matter what.

Q: What is your favorite part about New York?

Catriona: My favorite part about New York is really the people. I love that you can walk down the street and hear every language and see every color of person and their unique sense of style. It’s like everyone here feels they can just express however they want.

Q: What is your dream job?

Catriona: Dream job would be anything allows you to be creative.

Q: What is the key to having great relationships?

Catriona: Being open about who you are and what you believe in.

 Q: If you could win an award for anything what would it be?

Catriona: I hope it would be something to do with music or to do with my contribution to different causes.

Q: How did you learn to sing?

Catriona: I think I just listened to a lot of music growing up and music has always been a part of my life as I was in choir and jazz band growing up so. I love Beyoncé and every time I watch her, I am so inspired by her work ethic, how she keeps constantly evolving artistically.

Q: Do you have any secret talent?

Catriona: Does signing count?

Q: How did you get involved in pageantry?

Catriona: I really saw it as a platform. I saw how young empowered women could go out there and really have the causes that they believe in. I heard all of it and was really inspired by that to combine my college work, volunteer work with platform of pageantry.

Q: What makes you laugh?

Catriona: A lot of things; memes and vines are always to go to.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish next year?

Catriona: I want to show people that I’m never going to slow down like I want to show people that my reign wasn’t just for a year and I’m still going to keep doing the work that I love.

Q: What is your favorite type of food?

Catriona: I love anything that’s Japanese food and second to that would be Thai or Vietnamese food.