Catriona Gray: Hello, World!

Keeping her fingers crossed and, so to speak, hoping for the best even as she's shuddering to think of the worst, 2016 Miss World Philippines Catriona “Cat” Gray is now in Washington D.C., USA, competing with around 140 other hopefuls from around the world for the Miss World plum in the oldest pageant (with the most number of contestants) in the world, with the grand finals set for Dec. 18.

Traveling alone with seven bulging suitcases (“Retrieving them from the carousel is a good workout,” she jokes), Cat, 22 (born Jan. 6, 1994) is a pageant first-timer who, at 5’10” (plus six-inch heels), stood out among the contestants in the local pageant. Her regal bearing, quick wit and intelligence might work in her favor and win for the country, the second Miss World crown first won by Megan Young in 2013.

“I will enjoy the experience and won’t look at it as a competition,” Cat tells Conversations a few days before she left last week for, well, her appointment with destiny. “Megan reminded me to just be myself. Am I pressured to duplicate Megan’s win? Not really. Actually, the pressure is more from myself.”

Cat is accompanied to the interview at the Via Mare restaurant (Timog-Morato Rotunda, Quezon City) by her mom, Normita Ragas Gray. She is lugging a plastic bag. Does she just come from the grocery? “No,” laughs Cat. “I didn‘t have a box so I put my crown in this plastic bag.”

She’s a good talker (with sense, may I emphasize) and she laughs a lot. She’s very honest, too. Asked if she has a boyfriend, Cat admits, “Yes!” The lucky guy is Clint Bondad, the Fil-German hunk who finished first runner-up in the recent Century Tuna Superbod search. “We met during a commercial shoot,” volunteers Cat, “and we’ve been going steady for four years now.”

“She’s brainy,” shares Gerry Diaz (a BDO executive), who is a member of the Aces & Queens, the team that builds up beauty queens. “She was a full scholar of the Berkelee School of Music.”

The good news, according to Gerry, is that Cat has made it to the 21 semi-finalists (from among 91 delegates) in the Talent Competition last Nov. 28.

“We can help improve Cat’s chance of winning by voting for her,” says Gerry. “All you have to do is go to the official Miss World page at Miss World Organization, download the Miss World app available on the Apple app store and Google play. Voting is free (deadline is Dec. 18, Philippine Time). The voting mechanics will require you to vote for your Top 3 so after voting for Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray, you have to vote for two more candidates before you can submit your vote. You will get a bonus Top 3 vote if you subscribe to the Miss World app.”

You should be careful during the Q&A, especially if the question involves politics.

“You bet that I will be. I’m very mindful that I am representing the Philippines, so I cannot voice an opinion that contradicts that of our leader, Pres. Duterte.”

What if they asked you about Pres. Duterte?

“I will tell them that he is a revolutionary in aspects of politics. He has a different approach, a different style of leadership. He has only been in office for barely six months. Let’s see what will happen, after all he has six years in office. I think he gets a bad press only because of the direct translation of what he sometimes says.”

And what if they asked you about US President-Elect Donald Trump? (A Filipino beauty queen got booed when she chose Trump over Hillary Clinton; she should have begged off from answering and said she didn’t want to meddle in US politics.)

“It’s okay. My dad supports Trump so we have this ongoing debate in the house, hehehe!!! You know, people should talk, they should have an opinion and they shouldn’t just keep it to themselves. People should debate. They shouldn’t be afraid to talk. You should listen to what other people think and how they make decisions. There should be an exchange of ideas and opinions because that’s how we learn.”

Anyway, how do you cope with the drastic change in your life? How are you adjusting to it?

“I’ve been modeling since 2012 when I was 18 so I am used to following a crazy schedule. Yes, sleep is important. I can catch up on sleep while commuting. I move fast. So we’re going somewhere? I’m ready, let’s go!”

Megan Young brought home our country’s first Miss World crown in 2013. Are you pressured to bring home our second Miss World crown?

“In that year, we also won Miss International (Bea Rose Santiago). I want to make people proud; I want to give justice to the support they are giving me, so most of the pressure really comes from myself.”

Have you had that positive attitude since you were young?

“Oh yes!”

What kind of upbringing did you have?

“I’ve had a very beautiful childhood. I am an only child. My parents taught me independence early on. They let me explore; they let me travel by myself to America when I was nine years old to visit our relatives. I have an aunt who used to live in San Francisco and she lives in Hawaii now, another aunt is still in California and another one in Canada.”

As an only child, were you a spoiled brat?

“People say that when you are an only child, your parents can be very strict with you. Not in my case. Growing up, I had a lot of freedom. I was spoiled in the sense that my mom allowed me to try so many different things kasi when my mom was growing up, she didn’t have the opportunity to learn how to play instruments and to do extra-curricular activities. When I was young, I did varied after-school activities — I did art, drama, science, math. I’m not the sporty kind of person but I did get a certificate on outdoor recreation.” (Cat’s mom came from Oas, Albay, also the home province of 2014 Miss World Philippines Valerie Weigmann and the late Bb. Pilipinas-International Melody Gersbach, and lived in Australia for 25 years. But it was in the Philippines where she met Cat’s dad who used to own a mining corporation.)

If they asked you to describe yourself, how would you do it? 

“You mean during the Miss World pageant? I guess I would tell them about my childhood which makes up a good part of who I am and what I am passionate about, that I am a creative person, that I love art and music. I compose songs.” (She sang when she guested on the show Tonight with Arnold Clavio.) “I wasn’t expecting it. Arnold said, ‘Welcome to the show,’ then he asked me to sing and I did. By the way, I loved the band on the show; it’s really galing!”

What else would you tell them?

“I would tell them about my advocacy called Paraiso for the children in Tondo, Manila. I’ve been working at it since the beginning of the year. I am raising funds to procure a building because in Tondo there’s no free land. But we found a three-storey building which we are going to renovate and turn it into a pre-school.”

How do you deal with the intense behind-the-scenes competition in beauty contests — you know, contestants hiding or ruining the gowns and accessories of fellow contestants, etc.?

“Luckily, I haven’t experienced that. In the local competition, I just wanted to help everyone.”

Being Miss Friendship?

(Laughs) “No naman! I was doing it not for recognition; I just wanted to help. Some girls would struggle setting up their dress or with their make-up and I would be willing to help, hoping that if I found myself in the same situation, they would also help me. The Miss World Philippines was my first pageant.”

Why did it take time for you to join a pageant?

“I really didn’t want to. When I researched on Miss World and learned that it’s ‘Beauty with a Purpose,’ I thought I could use a platform to reach out to more people, and also to showcase my passions (singing, etc.) and to expand my advocacy. I was volunteering in charity projects at that time.”

Since you said you compose songs, how would you like to record an album (maybe for Viva Records, the Viva Group of Companies being behind the Miss World Philippines search)…or to venture into showbiz?

“Well, it’s my dream to release an album. I have started composing songs which have remained unfinished; I’ve just been jotting down notes. I love to learn and if I could sit down with somebody who could teach me the process of songwriting I think I could improve.”

What kind of songs do you like?

“I like bluesy, emotionally-driven songs, like the ones by Sam Smith and Adele. Yes, ballads. Big-band music, too.”

Any tips (pointers) from Megan? (They are both under Aces & Queens.)

“Megan and I had coffee together after the (Miss World Philippines) coronation. She told me that the Miss World Organization (MWO) is looking for someone who is easy to work with. Megan said that the winner would travel the whole year, so she had to be easy to be around and someone who is an effective spokesperson. Also, she reminded me to bear in mind that every day is a job interview, so every time I stepped out I should always be ready. I should be myself daw, which was the same advice I got from Valerie.”

Who are your role models?

“I don’t look up to movie stars or beauty queens as role models. My teachers, yes.”

You have a boyfriend. If made to choose between the Miss World crown and a marriage proposal from Clint, which would you choose?

“Hahahaha!!! I wouldn’t give up the crown. We understand each other. He’s not the type who would give me an ultimatum like, ‘Marry me now or I walk out.’ If you have a relationship like that, why would you get married in the first place? I know him and he wouldn’t ask me to choose.”

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