A 24-year-old from the Albay province in the Bicol region of the Philippines, Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe 2018 this past Sunday in Thailand.
One of the biggest reasons for her win was the distinctive way Gray strutted in a swimsuit on the runway with her distinctive “Lava Walk.”
that Lava Walk tho #MissUniverse #MissUniverse2018 pic.twitter.com/hTgz5RLSWU
— b e e j a y ?? (@Beejay_Balleras) December 13, 2018
For the main part of the show, Gray kicked her game up a notch by doing her Lava Walk while wearing a scorching custom gown by Filipino designer Mak Tuman featuring a portrait of the Mayon Volcano rendered in Swarovski crystals.
CATRIONA GRAY’S LAVA WALK, THAT’S IT THAT’S THE TWEET #MissUniverse #MissUniverse2018 #MissPhilippines
— azriele (@peachyazriele) December 17, 2018
Hailed by models including Tyra Banks and Ashley Graham, Gray’s walk was one of the most noteworthy parts of a pageant that, for better and worse, had its share.
But it’s not the only noteworthy thing about Gray, an advocate for HIV/AIDS education and prevention who has a master certificate in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music.
Despite being phenomenal enough shape to look great in a swimsuit, Gray is also a huge pizza fan. Specifically, Hawaiian pizza with sausage-stuffed crust.
“As soon as she walked in, she answered her questions very well. Not only did she answer it very well, she answered it with confidence,” said Richelle Singson Michael, one of the seven judges. “And her confidence was not just any ordinary confidence, it was a confidence that was natural. Her confidence also came off as fun. It wasn’t forced that she was rehearsing her answers. That made a big difference and that’s what put her in the Top 20. When she was in the Top 10, five, three, it was already the way that she answered.”
While clearly her confidence, eating habits, and walking prowess are all impressive, Gray’s overall body of work is not to be to discounted either.
Let’s check it out, courtesy of her Instagram page.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.