Miss Philiipines Universe 2018 in UK paper

Philippines’ Catriona Gray featured in UK, compared to Miss Universe winner 

Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo
Philippine Star
27 November 2018


MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray has been featured on November 27 in one of the United Kingdom’s leading news sites, Daily Mail.

In the article written by Alice Murphy for Daily Mail Australia, Catriona was called “the next Jennifer Hawkins.”

Catriona Gray being crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2018

Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho, file

Winner of the 2004 Miss Universe, Hawkins is a top model that endorsed international brands like Covergirl. She also hosted and became a judge for reality TV show “Australia’s Next Top Model.”

In the same article, Catriona was described in the title as “the stunning Australian-Filipino singer, model and TV host tipped to take out the 2018 Miss Universe crown.”

“Boasting 570,000 Instagram followers, Ms Gray is the hot ticket to cinch the crown next month with Sports Bet Australia announcing her as the $4.00 favourite,” the article announced.

According to the story, Gray’s biggest rivals for the crown would be Miss South Africa ($8.00), Ecuador ($7.50) and Thailand ($5,50).

The Daily Mail story also stressed that Gray “is the first woman in history to have been awarded both World and Universe national titles.”

Similarly, the article mentioned Catriona’s newly released music video “We're in This Together,” which “shot straight to number one in the Philippines iTunes chart.”

The video aims to raise awareness on children’s poverty in the slums of Manila. Daily Mail added that Catriona is known for her promotion of female empowerment and women's causes.

Born in Queensland to a Filipino mother and a Scottish-Australian father, the 24-year-old Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray, who was named after her two grandmothers, will represent the Philippines at the 2018 Miss Universe in Bangkok, Thailand on December 17.

Miss International 2018 runner-up

Ahtisa Manalo is Ms International 2018 1st runner-up

Robert R. Requintina
Manila Bulletin
10 November 2018

Miss Philippines Ma. Ahtisa Manalo finished second in the Miss International 2018 beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan Friday afternoon.

This is the first time that the Philippines won first runner-up in the 58-year history of the prestigious beauty contest.

Miss Philippines Athisa Manalo

Mariem Velazco of Venezuela was crowned Miss International 2018. Other winners were South Africa, 2nd runner-up; Romania, 3rd runner-up; and Colombia,4th runner-up.

In her speech, Manalo said: “If I will be lucky enough to be chosen as Miss International 2018, I will continue to be the voice of the youth and let them know that nothing is impossible with hard work and determination.”

Earlier, Filipino pageant fans went wild as soon as Manalo made it to the Top 15 of the contest, making the Miss International pageant one of the trending topics on social media on Friday afternoon.

Supporters of the 21-year-old beauty queen also cheered when Manalo confidently paraded in her national costume, swimsuit, and evening gown.

Other delegates who made it to the Top 15 were Romania, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Australia, Paraguay, Japan, Indonesia, Ukraine, Spain and Madagascar.

From 15, Manalo made the cut to the Top 8 along with Japan, Romania, Ecuador, Colombia, Spain, South Africa, and Venezuela.

A total of 77 candidates competed in this year’s Miss International pageant.

The Philippines already won six times in the beauty tilt. Other Filipina winners were Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verzosa (2016).

A big fan of crime-busting television series “Charlie’s Angels,” Manalo says she wanted to become a police officer when she was young but her parents did not approve of it.

Instead, she earned a degree in accountancy from the Manuel S. Enverga University in Candelaria, Quezon. In 2016, she was crowned Binibining Niyogyugan.

Manalo said her favorite beauty queen is 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.