EXCLUSIVE: Catriona Gray, confident the next Miss Philippines will 'rise to the challenge'

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is quick to brush off the idea that she may have set the bar too high for the next beauty queens.

The statuesque beauty says that all she did was prepare well so that she could give the Philippines the “best Christmas present ever.”

As she herself said in one of her TV interviews before flying to Thailand, Catriona did so much more than what was expected of a Miss Universe candidate.

And boy did she exceed everyone's expectations.

From the time she arrived in Bangkok to the moment she was crowned Miss Universe 2018, everything that Catriona did seemed to be on point and well thought out.

Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova of Canada put it best.

In one her interviews for a local show in Thailand, she said of Catriona: “I feel Catriona deserved to win because she's one of the most prepared girls. And I always say, if you prepare well, you would do very well in the competition. And you could tell. She practiced her walk, the way she spoke, the turns, the hair flips--everything!”

Speaking to GMANetwork.com via international phone call, Catriona says that she's confident that the next batch of beauty queens who will represent the country in international beauty pageants will do just fine.

“We've always had such high expectations placed on us because we do send these amazing women to compete abroad and represent our country, and I think that's something to be incredibly proud of,” explains Catriona, who is responsible for the famous “lava walk.”

The musician and HIV/AIDS awareness advocate is also optimistic that the future Filipina queens would be made of tougher stuff and that they would be able to handle criticism and pressure like a pro.

“The next beauty queens, I'm sure they will rise to the challenge. They are capable,” she says in a light-hearted tone.

“We have amazing women in the Philippines, and I feel like if they were just to put their own unique twist to what pageantry means to them, I'm sure they'd be able to exceed expectations and do really well.”

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