Reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray charms Dubai

Gulf News

The Filipino beauty queen on her reign so far and what she plans to do after she passes on her crown  Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2mzM3Ol  See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos  Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km    #Dubai #MissUniverse #CatrionaGray

Transcript

00:00I've had so many friends who have already said good things about their trip to Dubai.

00:04I have friends who are based here, and I don't know why it's taking me this long.

00:07Finally, I'm here.

00:12Hi, everyone. My name is David, and I'm the editor of Golf News Tabloid,

00:16and I'm so excited today to have with me the reigning Miss Universe herself,

00:21Katrina Gray.

00:22Okay. So, Katrina, welcome to Dubai.

00:26Why did it take you so long to come to the UAE?

00:28I know, right?

00:30I was just having a conversation also with Joshua, I'm sure you've met from Expedition.

00:35I've had so many friends who have already said good things about their trip to Dubai.

00:39I have friends who are based here, and I don't know why it's taking me this long.

00:43Finally, I'm here.

00:45So, why don't we go back to that night in December?

00:49Talk a little bit about it.

00:50I know you've spoken a lot about it, but let's go back.

00:52You can't have enough of that moment, right?

00:55Well, you know what?

00:56It's such a surreal feeling

00:57to prepare for something for months and to go through such a journey to get to that one night,

01:02and it symbolizes so much because, you know,

01:05you just don't know, is my life going to change after this night ends?

01:09And actually, what's funny, it wasn't actually a night.

01:11It was an early morning in Bangkok, Thailand.

01:14It was like a 7 a.m. show.

01:15If we combine that with the lack of sleep and being topsy-turvy with time,

01:20we're all a little bit delirious, we're a little bit incredulous,

01:23but what an amazing experience.

01:25One, being in Bangkok, Thailand,

01:27there were so many amazing fans and supporters who came out to support

01:32not only me, but the rest of the girls.

01:34So, the energy in the Impact Arena was unbelievable.

01:37And of course, we had so many fellow Filipinos there also,

01:40which made me feel so, so supported that night.

01:43Even when I'm standing in top two,

01:45if you look at my face, it's almost like I'm calm.

01:49But that's really because I really had this attitude going into the competition of,

01:53I'm so grateful to be here, I know I've done my best,

01:56and if my best gets me to this place or it gives me the title,

02:00you know what, I'll be happy.

02:01And it just so happens that it was my night.

02:05Obviously, your life has changed,

02:07but tell me, in what ways did you not expect it to change, but it has changed?

02:11Like, what are the biggest differences in your life?

02:14I still feel like that same simple girl that I always was.

02:19I lived on my own in the Philippines.

02:21I used to commute.

02:23I would always take all my bags everywhere.

02:26And, you know, I'd go and do my grocery and just simple things like that.

02:29Like, I still feel like that girl.

02:31I don't feel like I've changed.

02:32But now, I sometimes get taken aback when people recognize me on the street,

02:37or I see people and they're so overwhelmed with joy and excitement upon seeing me.

02:41It kind of takes me back because I don't feel like a big deal.

02:44What does it feel like to be called the pride of the Philippines?

02:47Does it keep you up at night?

02:48It doesn't keep me up at night, but it is a huge, huge honor

02:52to be able to see people from elders to kids,

02:55see them at my homecoming, see them on social media,

02:58just either doing the lava walk or just giving words of admiration and support.

03:03It really means so, so much to me because that's what makes what I do so fulfilling.

03:08It's not just about me.

03:09It's about my country and also the people that I'm able to affect in a positive way.

03:14You have a lot of things to fulfill within this year.

03:17How much do you think you've done?

03:19How much do you think you want to do while your reign lasts?

03:23Regarding my reign, you know what?

03:24I don't see that my job ends when I pass the crown

03:28because this is something I want to do for my whole life.

03:31The work that I'm doing now is something that I want to do

03:34as Catriona in the years going forward,

03:36whether that be the charity and cause work that I do,

03:40being able to be a spokesperson, being able to be a role model,

03:43being able to be a band ambassadress,

03:45and also pursue my own passions in music and business.

03:48I want to still continue doing that even past my reign.

03:52There's a lot of talk about the Bidimiding Filipinas.

03:55Yes.

03:56And a person who's going to represent the Philippines,

03:59Kozini, who has a Middle Eastern connection.

04:01Yes, I believe she does.

04:03What are your thoughts?

04:04Would you like to pass on the crown to another Filipino?

04:07I mean, of course, I would love to.

04:09But you know what?

04:10There are so many amazing girls that come through Miss Universe every single year.

04:15And it's not even about the crown.

04:17Because within this community, there are women who excel in their own right,

04:22whether they're a Miss Universe or just a contender.

04:25And that's what's so great about our platform.

04:27It really changes girls' lives.

04:29And more so, you become a part of a community that uplifts women.

04:34I wish Kozini all the best.

04:35I'm so excited.

04:36I was there to crown her in the Philippines.

04:38You spoke about HIV AIDS in our interview.

04:41Yes.

04:42Why is that so close to your heart?

04:44And also, what would you like to do going forward?

04:47I've been an HIV and AIDS advocate for about three years now.

04:51And the sad truth is I was pulled to the cause because it affected someone close to me.

04:57When I was around 22 years old, I had a friend,

05:00because I worked as a model who was a model booker,

05:02and he passed away from health complications due to HIV.

05:06And he was only 26.

05:08And until then, I never really had any perception or any knowledge about HIV and AIDS,

05:13especially the state of it in my country of the Philippines.

05:16And it really shocked me to see that it's not only the medical implications

05:19that affects people's lives,

05:20but the stigma and discrimination that also surround them as a community.

05:25And so I've been advocating for HIV AIDS ever since,

05:30for early testing and prevention,

05:33for breaking down the stigma,

05:35opening up conversations about it.

05:37Because people's lives shouldn't be defined by a medical condition,

05:41because that's all it is.

05:42You've already released a music video.

05:44Yes.

05:45How big is music going to feature in the future for you?

05:48You know what?

05:48It's always been a passion of mine,

05:50ever since I was a little girl.

05:51And you studied music.

05:52Yes, I did.

05:53I studied music.

05:54So it's something I definitely want to pursue as a passion,

05:56as a recording artist in the future.

05:58And I would love to bring together my love for cause,

06:01and my love for music,

06:02and perhaps benefit concerts in the future too.

06:04You're meeting all your UAE fans tonight.

06:07Are you looking forward to it?

06:08I'm so excited to meet the fans tonight.

06:10I know that a lot of Filipinos will be there.

06:12And the reason that makes me really, really excited

06:15is because the majority of the Filipinos here in the UAE

06:18are overseas Filipino workers.

06:20To know the sacrifice that they make

06:22in being away from their family,

06:23just to support their family back home,

06:26is really heroic to me.

06:27And it actually inspires me

06:29because of the selflessness that they possess

06:31for the love of family and for the love of country.

06:34So I think if anything's going to be the biggest takeaway

06:36from meeting my fans tonight,

06:38it's going to be that.

06:39You are also quite popular on social media.

06:43You are quite active.

06:45How do you...

06:45I'm sure there are negativities out there as well.

06:48How does Miss Universe deal with all of that?

06:51With a lot of grace, of course.

06:55I'm honestly just like any other person.

06:57You know, I try to have a thick skin

06:58and at times it does hurt because I am human too.

07:01When it comes to negativity online,

07:03you just really have to kind of talk to yourself and say,

07:06you know what, they don't know you as a person.

07:09They don't know the depth of your character.

07:11They don't know what you've been through.

07:12They don't know what you believe in and who you are.

07:14So you shouldn't take what they say about you

07:17as an assessment of yourself.

07:19Does that make sense?

07:20Because they've never met you

07:22and then they're saying these things about you.

07:24And probably if they were in front of you,

07:25they wouldn't even say those things.

07:27So when it comes to social media,

07:29I never retaliate with negativity with negativity

07:32because I feel like that's just a never ending cycle.

07:34I always try and promote positivity

07:36and I feel like that's not conditional

07:38to me being a title holder.

07:39I believe everyone has the ability

07:41to stop that cycle of hate and negativity,

07:43especially when it comes to social media.

07:45Amazing.

07:46On that note, thank you so much.

07:48Thank you for your time also.

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