SURFACING

In victory and adversity, courageous Catriona Gray knows no other direction—onward and upward is the only way to go

- KIM REYES-PALANCA

Intentional—this is how I came to know the young Catriona Gray. Then a model and aspiring singer, she easily became a favorite muse in many editorials. Beyond that angelic face, peering through those cat eyes is a goddess-like gaze. She has this ethereal and fiery quality about her, an ability to bring out both intensity and vulnerability in front of the camera. Soon enough, modeling and music would be two artistic modalities she would pursue. She was fully present, focused, and all in—a pro from the very beginning.

After a spirited catch-up, I jumped to our interview. I then tell her how we would proceed. I mention all my questions are based on what I call her mission statements— known to many during her reign, as an advocate, and echoed in many of her platforms.

I start off in 2019, during her last walk and message as Miss Universe, “To everyone with a dream, know that your dreams are valid, and on your path you are never denied, only redirected.” I ask if any of her career milestones stemmed from diversions, or redirections. She responds, “We all have an idea of how life is supposed to turn out and what our timeline is, and it never ever ends up that way. And I think that’s the whole point.”

THE CATALYST

Catriona admits she was close-minded about joining pageants at first. It was only while she was actively doing volunteer work, and simultaneously supporting close friend and fellow model Valerie Weigmann on her Miss World preparations, did she actually reconsider.