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Catriona Gray is an Australian-Filipino television host, singer and model
She was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and is tipped to win the contest
Ms Gray is the first Filipino to represent the country in Miss Universe
She is known for her promotion of women's causes and female empowerment
By ALICE MURPHY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 02:22 GMT, 27 November 2018 | UPDATED: 03:15 GMT, 27 November 2018
Catriona Magnayon Gray is an Australian-Filipino TV host, singer and model who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018.
Born in Queensland to a Scottish-Australian father and Filipino mother, the 24-year-old beauty will represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand on December 17.
Boasting 570,000 Instagram followers, Ms Gray is the hot ticket to cinch the crown next month with Sports Bet Australia announcing her as the $4.00 favourite.
Hot on her heels are Miss Thailand ($5,50), Miss Ecuador ($7.50) and Miss South Africa ($8.00).
Catriona Magnayon Gray (pictured) is an Australian-Filipina TV host, singer and model who will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe final in Bangkok, Thailand on December 17
This year's contest is not the first foray into the world of pageantry for the multi-talented catwalk queen.
Ms Gray was previously named Miss World Philippines in 2016, and is the first woman in history to have been awarded both World and Universe national titles.
Before her departure to Bangkok to prepare for the final, Ms Gray released her new music video 'We're in This Together', an anthem highlighting the plight of poverty stricken children in the slums of Manila.
The song shot straight to number one in the Philippines iTunes chart.
Ms Gray works as a commercial model and singer, and recently released a track called 'We're in This Together' to raise awareness about child poverty in the slums of Manila
Ms Gray is vocal about her belief in the importance of education and is a passionate advocate for gender equality, social justice and human rights.
The Cairns-born beauty explained her passion for education to CNN Philippines, saying: 'Why education? Because if you give them food, they will go hungry the next day.
'If you give them medicine, they might hurt themselves again. But education will stay with them for a lifetime.'
s Gray is vocal about her belief in the importance of education and is a passionate advocate for gender equality, social justice and human rights
Who does SportsBet tip to be the best performers at Miss Universe?
$4.00 Philippines
$5.50 Thailand
$7.50 Ecuador
$8.00 South Africa
$8.00 USA
$10 Peru
$10 Puerto Rico
$10 Russia
$12 Australia
$12 Brazil
$12 Vietnam
She has expressed opposition to the idea of the Tagalog (Filipino) language being removed from state school curriculums, saying: 'I think it would be really sad if we were to reach that point.
'I feel when you reach a certain age, you develop an appreciation for what Tagalog is - the poetry of it and history of it as well as how it represents our culture.'
Ms Gray regularly campaigns for HIV/AIDS awareness, documenting her own HIV test on Instagram.
She is currently in a relationship with 24-year-old Filipino-German model Clint Bondad and is an ambassador for global technology brand Huawei.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Ms Gray previously revealed three women she admires: Broadway star Lea Salonga, fashion blogger Kim Jones and Filipina-French actress Solen Heussaff.
The multi-talented beauty queen campaigns for HIV/AIDS awareness and previously documented her own HIV test on Instagram
The Cairns-born beauty reportedly designed her own costume for the national section of the pageant which will take place on December 17
One segment of Miss Universe involves a national costume parade where entrants dress as famous icons and symbols from their home countries.
Ms Gray designed her national costume for the domestic heat of the pageant, and has reportedly done the same for the final.
Since its early days, the Miss Universe pageant has grown increasingly diverse.
Now in its 67th year, the 2018 competition will include Miss Spain, Angela Ponce, the first ever trans woman to take part.
Other hot contenders for the crown include Miss Japan, Miss Thailand and Miss South Africa who have reportedly received significant attention on the pageant circuit.
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