It has only been a few days after the Miss Universe 2018 coronation night and Filipinos still can’t get over Catriona Gray’s victory. But while everyone celebrates the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe crown, the Internet is divided on Gray’s identity.
Catriona Gray or Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray was born on January 6 1994 in Cairns, Queensland in Australia. Her father, Ian Gray, is a Scottish-born Australian and her mother is Normita Ragas Magnayon, a proud Bicolana from Oas, Albay. Gray has spent most of her childhood days in “The Land Down Under.” And at the age of 18, after finishing high school, she then moved to the Philippines to pursue a career in modeling.
If you don’t know Catriona Gray personally or haven’t heard her speak Filipino in some of her interviews, you’d assume she’s a foreigner—with her Western name, Caucasian looks, and Aussie accent. Since she grew up in Queensland and her qualities don’t resemble a “full-blooded” Filipino, she is now being questioned if she should really be representing Australia instead of the Philippines.
Because of this, some Australian publications want to take credit for the beauty queen’s win.
In the front page of Australian newspaper, “The Courier Mail,” you’d see a picture of Catriona Gray with the words, “Miss Universe Philippines.” However, the paper crossed out “Philippines” and replaced it with “Queensland” instead.
The front page of tomorrow's The Courier-Mail @couriermail pic.twitter.com/cdUNImCDqC
— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) December 17, 2018