Catriona Gray ends her Bb. Pilipinas reign with a heartfelt farewell speech

Catriona Gray ended her Bb. Pilipinas reign with a heartfelt speech that both inspired and triggered tears. Read it below:

Photo: Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/GMA News

Philippines, my heart is overflowing with gratitude.

This journey has been made even more meaningful because every single step of the way I felt each and every one of you right there with me.

I am so humbled and immensely grateful to each and every one of you who has given true meaning to feeling the love and the support of the Filipino people.

I knew that I had a big role to step up to once the Miss Universe Philippines sash was placed across my heart.

And along the way I had to surmount three mountains, conquer three Mayon Volcanoes.

The first one was conquering myself. Like every single person I had to overcome the fear that comes from within. Fear that comes from within. The fear of falling short, the fearing of failure, the fear of not measuring up.

But I conquered my fear with faith. Faith that God had purposely set me on this path and that he would not give me a burden too heavy to carry.

And faith in myself. Because I knew that I was and I’m not perfect. But I knew I’m determined. And I knew that out of the 95 women that I was to compete with in Miss Universe, I would be the one and only Filipina and that gave me strength.

The second was conquering others. There were so many times that people told me that I would fail. I was told that it was too soon to for another Miss Universe from the Philippines. I was body-shamed and I was put down. But I conquered others.

I surrounded myself with people who uplifted me, supported me, and mentored me. My Team Catriona were my backbone and my safe place. And I wouldn’t be standing here if not for every single one of them.

And for all of you. And as an only child whose family was away for the entirety of this journey, you also gave me a family.

The third and most important is conquering for a purpose. What was the point of all this? Who was I doing this for? I looked down at the lettering over my heart that said Philippines and I felt its weight. Knowing the history, the challenges and triumphs of the Filipino people. I thought of the children of Tondo and of my country.

I may only be one person but now I have the opportunity to serve 104 million
Flipinos. And I knew that I was doing this para sa Pilipinas.

Inside each and every one of us is a king or queen with the ability to conquer the universe, whatever that may be for you. But we must first conquer ourselves, conquer what others perceive of us and finally conquer with a purpose, to conquer our dreams.

Philippines, I will forever raise our flag. Thank you for choosing me as your queen. Forever a Miss Philippines. Forever a Binibini.

Love, Catriona Magnayon Gray, your Miss Universe 2018.

— LA, GMA News