A plea from Miss Universe

BY MJ MARFORI

JUNE 17, 2019

MJ MARFORI

Catriona asks public not to judge beauty pageant candidates who falter in Q&As

When Catriona Gray has something to say, she always nails it.

Indeed, if there is one beauty queen who has truly mastered the art of conveying her message clearly and articulately, it’s our reigning Miss Universe. For just when pageant fans thought that she’s probably given her winningest slogans away, Catriona blew the nation away during her final walk as Binibining Pilipinas Universe last week.

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“But we must first conquer ourselves, conquer what others perceive of us, and finally, conquer with a purpose,” she declared.

Reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray talks about the high pressure moments on stage during pageants. INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

Truly, this Filipina is conquering the universe not only with her beauty but with that head above her shoulders and compassion in her heart.

In the Know finally caught up with Queen Cat at The Smart Signature event held Friday at The Fifth at Rockwell where she was hailed the telco’s newest brand ambassador.

She revealed how overwhelmed she was right after her final message at Binibining Pilipinas, detailing, “It was a really emotional moment for me. Weeks going up to the pageant as well. To be honest, I didn’t know what to say! I’m thinking about it a lot because so much has happened this journey. I mean how do you put all that in [such a short] amount of time?

“The message that I gave really came from my heart. It was really what I wanted to share and to see that it touched so many people, it’s even more overwhelming.”

Meanwhile, Catriona admitted she knew little about this year’s Binibini candidates given her busy Miss Universe duties. But watching them on stage during the finals impressed her and even said she believes the winners will all make their mark in their respective international pageants.

The Filipina beauty queen is known for her clear articulate

She also said the teams behind the ladies and preparing them for the international stage are the very ones to to reckon with in pageantry right now.

“I have great faith in the teams and the passion of the Filipinos who mold and support our girls. I am sure we will do great.”

Taking her role very seriously, Catriona truly makes an effort to mentor new queens, and has begun doing so for her Binibini successor Gazini Ganados.

“That’s what a queen’s role for me is. You are part of the sisterhood and although I am the reigning Miss Universe, if there’s a piece of advice I could give her — because there is a lot of pressure — I am more than willing to give the advice.”

Gray crowning her successor, new Miss Universe-Philippines, Gazini Ganados

Catriona promised Gazini she’d keep an open line for her and the newly crowned Binibini couldn’t be more grateful.

“Gazini was so sweet when I met her backstage at the winners’ circle. She was like, ‘Oh my gosh Cat. I am so overwhelmed that this has happened to me!’ She’s the sweetest girl and I wish her nothing but the best.”

As for the other girls who were strong contenders but failed to clinch a title again — specifically Cat’s first runner-up last year Vickie Rushton who has since been attacked by trolls for her answer at the Q&A portion — Catriona pleads with the public not to bash anyone for their mishaps on stage.

“It was really unfortunate, I was really rooting for Vickie since I’m close to her as first runner-up from my batch. And I think she did amazingly even though the thing in the Q&A happened — and it happens. It’s a grace-under-pressure environment, a completely high nerve wracking environment and no one can tell how she’ll do.”

But while most beauty queens seem to dread the Q&A, Cat eats the portion alive for breakfast! So here’s her advice to the ladies who want to ace their answers too. “It’s really the girl inside. The candidate should really look within her and discover her weakness and then build on that.”

https://www.manilatimes.net/a-plea-from-miss-universe/570354/