Australian-born model Catriona Gray of the Philippines has been named winner of the Miss Universe 2018 competition in the Thai capital Bangkok.
She bested contestants from 93 other countries to claim the prize. The 24-year-old Gray edged out first runner-up Tamaryn Green of South Africa and third-place Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela.
During the final question, Gray was asked: "What is the most important lesson you've learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?"
Gray answered: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very poor, sad and I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it, to look in the beauty of the children and be grateful.”
“I would 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.”
“If I could teach people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children would have smiles on their faces.”
Gray was born in Cairns to a Scottish-born Australian father and a Filipino mother.
She was a student at Trinity Anglican School in Cairns and later earned her Certificate in Music Theory from the Berklee College of Music in Boston,Massachusetts.
After finishing high school in Australia, she moved to Manila where she worked as a commercial model.
Gray succeeds the 2017 winner, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa. The theme of the 67th Miss Universe pageant was 'Empowered Women' and was judged by seven women including former pageant winners, businesswomen, and a fashion designer.
