Catriona Gray weighs in on filtered vs real beauty on social media

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray took to social media to express what she thinks about using filters on social media.

In an Instagram post made on Monday, March 22, the beauty queen revealed how fun filters are for expressing oneself online, however, she can't deny how often she would compare her real self versus her “filtered” reality.

“Filters are so much fun and just like make-up -- [it] allows us to express ourselves here online,” she said.

“BUT there are so many times I've scrolled through social media not taking into account that I'm subconsciously comparing my reality with a filter.”

The Filipino-Australian beauty expressed how she is a firm believer in setting one's own beauty standard and not the one set by the media.

“Our definition of beauty is constantly being defined by standards, what we see in the media, and what we're told. But, I am a believer that your beauty should be defined by YOU.”

She added, “I read a quote online recently about how, when we take photos of the moon and stars of the night using a camera, and it doesn't turn out, we easily recognize that the sky is really beautiful in reality, but it's the camera that's not able to capture it.

“What if we accepted that our beauty isn't meant to be experienced through a lens?”

The 27-year-old then reminded her fans, “To whoever is reading this today, you are beautiful. You are worthy. And you are capable.”

This is not the first time the beauty queen has spoken about the topic of embracing one's flaws.

In late 2020, Catriona posted a photo of her bare face flaunting all of her “pores, oiliness, fine lines, breakouts, beauty spots, and moles” as a reminder that what we see online isn't the reality.

She said, “Just jumping on here with a bare-faced selfie to remind you that even though in photoshoots, makeup, and IG story filters, my skin looks 'flawless'... [But] in reality, I have pores, oiliness, fine lines, breakouts, beauty spots, and moles… and I'm perfectly fine with that.”

Catriona added, “This is just a kind little reminder to remember that what we see online is a 'curated feed,' and that we shouldn't compare that to our everyday reality. #AsSheIs.”

#AsSheIs is an online movement that aims to empower and change the perspective of viewers on what's really behind the glamour of social media.

Take a look at how Catriona Gray bloomed from an adorable baby to a beautiful and smart beauty queen in this gallery.