Catriona Gray from the Philippines Crowned Miss Universe

BANGKOK, Dec. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Catriona Gray from the Philippines was crowned the new Miss Universe in front of a worldwide audience at IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The three-hour special programming event aired live on FOX in the United States.  

Catriona Gray is passionate about the arts and previously received her Master Certificate in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music. She works closely with Young Focus Philippines, an education based NGO that provides free education and school sponsorships for children in Tondo Manila, one of the poorest neighborhoods within the country's capital city. Additionally, Catriona is an advocate for HIV/AIDS education and prevention after losing a close friend to the virus. She supports Love Yourself Philippines, an organization that offers free testing, education and treatment to those living with HIV/AIDS, and now as Miss Universe, plans to bring more awareness to the epidemic. 

Now in its 67^th year, MISS UNIVERSE® had a record number of contestants at the competition with women representing 94 countries. The top 20 finalists were selected from three regions of the world: Americas, Europe, Africa-Asia Pacific as well as a wild card group across all areas.  For the first time in the competition's history, the finalists had the opportunity to share a personal statement summarizing what they wanted the world to know about them. Topics ranged from female health care, the environment, ethnic minorities, body positivity, and cultural diversities.

The first-ever all-women selection committee panel was made up of entrepreneurs, business leaders, industry experts, and former Miss Universe titleholders. Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce made history as the first transgender woman to participate in the pageant sharing a message of inclusion, respect and diversity to the international community.

Miss Universe Laos On-anong Homsombath was honored as the winner of the National Costume Show and shared about her costume, the "Stream of Generosity," a half-human, half-bird spiritual creature in traditional Laos' folklore.

Five-time Emmy® Award winner, and one of television's favorite entertainers, Steve Harvey hosted the global event. Grammy® winning singer, songwriter and record producer NE-YO performed. Model, entrepreneur and body activist, Ashley Graham took viewers behind-the-scenes throughout the competition alongside TV personality and style guru Carson Kressley and supermodel and pageant expert Lu Sierra to provide commentary.

Final Results:   

First Runner-Up: Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green

Second Runner-Up: Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez 

Top Three: Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray; Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green; Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez.

Top Five: Miss Universe Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega; Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Nie; Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray; Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green; Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez.

Top Ten: Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green; Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Nie; Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez; Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray; Miss Universe Costa Rica Naalia Carvajal; Miss Universe Curacao Akisha Albert; Miss Universe Nepal Manita Devkota; Miss Universe Canada Marta Magdalena Stepien; Miss Universe Thailand Sophida Kanchanarin; Miss Universe Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega.

Top Twenty: Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green; Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray; Miss Universe Nepal Manita Devkota; Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Nie; Miss Universe Thailand Sophida Kanchanarin; Miss Universe Poland Magdalena Swat; Miss Universe Belgium Zoë Brunet; Miss Universe Hungary Enikő Kecskés; Miss Universe Ireland Grainne Gallanagh; Miss Universe Curacao Akisha Albert; Miss Universe Costa Rica Naalia Carvajal; Miss Universe Canada Marta Magdalena Stepien; Miss Universe Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega; Miss Universe Jamaica Emily Sara-Claire Maddison; Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers; Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez; Miss Universe Indonesia Sonia Fergina Citra; Miss Universe Brazil Mayra Dias; Miss Universe Australia Francesca Hung. 

The Miss Universe Organization

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global community that empowers women to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success.  MUO believes that every woman should be "Confidently Beautiful." MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® programs provide the 10,000 women who participate annually an international platform to affect positive change through influential humanitarian and professional efforts. The contestants and titleholders are leaders and role models in their communities, develop personal and professional goals, and inspire others to do the same. The Miss Universe Organization is an Endeavor company. To learn more, visit www.missuniverse.com.

About Endeavor

Endeavor, formerly WME | IMG, is a global leader in sports, entertainment and fashion operating in more than 30 countries. Named one of Fortune's 25 Most Important Private Companies, Endeavor is the parent of a number of subsidiaries with leadership positions in their respective industries, including WME, IMG and UFC. Collectively, Endeavor specializes in talent representation and management; brand strategy, activation and licensing; media sales and distribution; and event management.

For more information, visit www.missuniverse.com and MissUniverse on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.   

SOURCE The Miss Universe Organization

Related Links

http://www.missuniverse.com