She’s been the pride of Pinoys since she took the Miss Universe crown back in December, and 25-year-old Catriona Gray enjoyed a welcome home parade when she touched down in Manila this week.
The beauty queen has been residing in New York with the Miss Universe Organisation as she carries out her charity and campaign work around the globe, but has this week returned to her native Philippines for her official victory parade.
Gray held a press conference in Manila on Wednesday, in which she thanked her countrymen and women for their support during and since the competition.
“It brings me so much pride and honour to be able to bring so much joy to my country of the Philippines. It has always been about giving back to the community and the country as a whole," she told reporters.
"It has been something that’s anchored me throughout this whole process. It’s always something that I’ve drawn strength from every step of the way."
On Thursday, a parade was held in Gray’s honour, with hundreds of well-wishers lining the streets to celebrate her victory, two months after she won the competition, held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gray became the fourth Filipina to take the title at the Miss Universe competition, which is watched by almost every household in the country.
The model beat off 92 competitors to take the title, and says she will use her year-long reign to continue her work as an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, and volunteer as a teacher's assistant to the students of Young Focus NGO.
