Catriona Gray

“I've been modeling since 2012, when I was 18, so I am used to following a crazy schedule.”

“When I was young, I did varied after-school activities - I did art, drama, science, math. I'm not the sporty kind of person, but I did get a certificate on outdoor recreation.”

“Even though my label is that of a beauty queen, I'm not going to limit myself to that, just because that's my title.”

“I think Miss Universe is wonderful platform that we promote diversity and women empowerment. Why? Because we are achieved women who have stories, who have passions, who have careers.”

“Seeing lights being put up along the street and these colored lanterns called parols being put up at people's houses makes Christmas in Philippines magical.”

“Being a beauty queen was never on my radar.”

“I just constantly tell myself that I should be the only one to define my worth and what I'm capable of and how I perceive myself. And that I should never source that worth from other people, especially strangers on social media. They don't know who I am, the length of my journey, who I am as a person.”

“I loved numbers from a very young age. I feel like my mom led me there because, instead of giving me Game Boy and PlayStations and a TV, she gave me educational software on our family computer for Math and stuff.”

“When I was 13, my mom said she had a dream that I would win Miss Universe in a red dress.”

“I am quite a conservative person, just as an individual.”

“So many people look up to pageants, including young girls and young boys. The message that I would hate to send to them is that you're only deemed worthy of a title or worthy of recognition or of success if you fit in a certain number.”

“I don't think that your height affects how good of a spokesperson, how well you can be, how well you can communicate your ideas as a beauty queen or as a public figure.”