READ: Catriona Gray tells aspiring beauty queens: 'Stay strong.'
“Mental fortitude.”
This is one of the most important advice that Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray gives to aspiring beauty queen.
“Stay strong mentally,” the 25-year-old Pinay beauty queen stressed when told about being a role model to Filipinas who also want to become a Miss Universe.
She continued, “Mental fortitude is the term that I use, but some people are like, 'What's fortitude?'
“Mental fortitude means, especially being a Filipina beauty queen, being from the biggest social media nation in the world, you'll be bombarded in social media--good and bad--and that's just the part of it, the part of the arena that we're in.
“But you need to be strong in your mind to know how to filter or to know how not to let it affect you or get you down, to the extent that you're hindering pursuing your dream.”
Aside from mental and emotional strength, Catriona also stressed the importance of holding on to the main purpose and keeping the vision during the whole beauty pageant journey.
She said, “My first advice is to know why you're doing this? Is it because you want to gain new opportunities or a stepping stone or platform to something? Is it for your advocacy? Is there another motivation?
“You need to find a purpose that you're doing this because throughout the whole journey, you will need that purpose to hold on to, that's what's gonna carry you through.
“Two, it would be really to be true to what you want or your vision.
“This is really important for me, pursuing pageantry, entering Binibini.
“Keeping true to my vision and that meant for me to be really hands-on in all aspects--wardrobe, presentation, national costume, everything.
“I was blessed to be surrounded by a team that really allowed me to bring my vision to life.”
Meanwhile, Catriona also mentioned about how staying true to herself prepared her for Miss Universe.
She related, “It's really, one, you need to be true to yourself.
“You know, we're so lucky here in the Philippines that we're surrounded by amazing teams and people who will lift you up and carry you throughout your journey and preparation.
“But once you get there to compete, you're all alone in a sense that you're all by yourself.
“You may have them in social media but, essentially, you are all by yourself.
“So, you need to stay true to yourself and kind of have that strength, whether you draw it from an advocacy, whether you draw it from your supporters or you draw it from your family.
“You need to have that strength because through those moments in the pageant, when you are overwhelmed, when you are feeling doubtful, that what I drew from and it carried me all the way through.
“Even until now, there are moments that I'm homesick, I always remember why I'm here and it keeps me going."