Catriona Gray and Silver Linings

By: MJ Blancaflor

When Catriona Gray tells the world to look at situations with a silver lining, we know she will bring back the Miss Universe crown to our country.

The 25-year-old convinced the jury that she deserves the title with her answer in the Q&A portion.

When asked about the most important lesson she had learned in life, Catriona said: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and the life there is poor and it’s very sad. And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it, to look for beauty in the faces of the children, and to be grateful.”

She added: “And I will bring this aspect as a Miss Universe, to see situations with a silver lining. And to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And if I can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity cannot grow and prosper, and children will have smiles on their faces.”

Her elaborate and hopeful answer sealed her victory in the pageant held at Bangkok, Thailand.

So if Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach owned the phrase “confidently beautiful with a heart,” Catriona reminded everyone of “silver lining.”

OF GOWNS AND MEMES

During the Q&A portion, Catriona wore a Mayon-inspired gem-embellished gown. This comes to no surprise. Her mother, Normita Ragas Magnayon, hails from Bicol—the home of Mayon Volcano.

Clad in her lava-like red gown, Catriona stood in the middle of other contestants who wore gowns with shades of silver and gray. Thus, Catriona and her “silver linings.”

Filipino netizens, of course, swiftly took to social media to share their observation that our bet looked like a lead singer of an all-girl group.

Catriona, who was fierce during the entire competition, amused us with her beauty inside and out during the crucial moment of the pageant.

But apart from her winning answer and stunning gown, there’s a silver lining in Catriona’s journey prior to Miss Universe.

‘THE UNIVERSE, RATHER’

In 2016, Catriona was crowned Miss World Philippines.

After winning at the national competition, she competed at Miss World 2016 at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland, United States. She placed in the Top 5 and won Multimedia Award and Talent Award.

But the Miss World title was elusive for her as she failed to take home the crown. Alas, the universe has bigger plans for her.

Upon the insistence of her loved ones, she joined Binibining Pilipinas once again in 2018. During the national costume competition, Catriona wore a Muslim princess attire from the Mindanao, taking placement as its winner.

The young woman was not fated to reign as the queen of the world, but she was destined for the universe.

She bested the other contenders and secured her ticket to the most prestigious pageant. Catriona was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018 by then outgoing titleholder Rachel Peters.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

There is, indeed, a silver lining with her defeat. Had it not been for her loss in the Miss World pageant, she would not be crowned Miss Universe.

She is the fourth Filipina to win such, following Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1979).

Catriona’s tale manifests the resilient and determined Filipino spirit. Her victory inspires us to find silver linings in our everyday lives.