Catriona Gray reimagines her iconic pageant looks as she marks five years since winning the Miss Universe crown
Catriona Gray recreated her iconic Miss Universe looks as she celebrated her fifth year since winning the most-coveted crown.
The 29-year-old model-beauty queen looked back on her journey as the Miss Universe in 2018 on her Instagram on Dec. 17—exactly five years since she was crowned the winner.
“5 has always been my favorite number, ever since I was a little girl. And it seems fitting to celebrate and reflect on my 5th year (sic) anniversary as I stand now on the cusp of a whole new chapter,” she began on her post, sharing photos of herself surrounded with tangerine-colored feathers, referencing her Ibong Adarna gown during the preliminaries.
She recalled how she gave her “absolute everything on the [Miss Universe] stage” from start to finish.
“From being an independent, non-camp trained candidate and forming my own team; to utilizing visual, storytelling in every aspect from my national costume, to my OOTDs, to my accessories; to creating social media strategies and campaigns,” she wrote. “Some people, I rubbed the wrong way because I wasn't just a ‘yes’ girl. I was vocal, stubborn in my vision of what a representative could, and ought to bring to the universe stage,” she added.
She furthered: “Mine is also a comeback story. One that was rooted in failure - that's why the mythical folklore of Philippine mythology in the form of Ibong Adarna resonates so deeply: a phoenix that rises from the ashes. And five years ago, in Bangkok Thailand, I earned the greatest honor of bringing pride to my country as [Miss Universe] 2018.”
Catriona also paid tribute to her Mayon Volcano persona which made her stint at the prestigious pageant iconic—from the “lava walk” to the “lava gown” which was helmed by Mak Tumang.
“5 years later... still burning brighter and stronger than ever,” she wrote in another post. “Who knew that paying homage to Mt Mayon volcano as an ode to my mother's hometown would resonate with so many...”
She compared her pageant journey to a volcanic eruption; from doing so much “unseen work” to being "the brightest” during the competition, with the help of her team.
In the photos, she donned an all-black ensemble, looking sultry and bold in a one-piece black halter suit with black stockings, stilettos, and gloves styled by Lyn Alumno and Kirsten Ariana.
She also wore a red neckpiece that resembles lava erupting from a volcano by Job Dacon.
In the final series, she embodied the Mayon Volcano herself in an AI artwork by Vince Uy with digital editing by PJ Calingasan, and photography by BJ Pascual.
“My journey in its simplest form, has and always will be, a love letter to my country of the Philippines,” Catriona wrote, adding, “And I hope it can serve as a reminder to never give up on YOUR vision. And that no matter what the path your on looks like...know that you are never denied and only redirected.”
Catriona is the fourth Filipina to bring home the Miss Universe crown, following Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973, and Pia Wurtzbach in 2015. Before her Miss Universe stint, she also joined the Miss World Philippines in 2016, where she finished in the Top 5.
She is engaged to actor Sam Milby, they are set to tie the knot in 2024.