ON BEING DTI'S 'OTOP' AMBASSADOR

Catriona Gray: 'It's important to support our local communities with their livelihoods'

Catriona Gray said it was a "great honour" to be named the ambassador of the "One Town One Product" campaign of the Department of Trade and Industries.

At the confernment ceremony on Tuesday, the Miss Universe 2018 said it is especially important it was to show support to the local communities who produce fabrics and artifcacts "in light with recent times."

"I feel it's important that we support our local communities with their livelihoods and uplifting them and giving them a hand," she continued.

As the ambassador for the initiative, Catriona's hope is "to increase and celebrate the beauty of our Filipino handicrafts, our art and culture."

"It's been an advocacy of mine to promote our culture and art, and especially fabric that is unique to the Philippines," Cat said.

It's true. All through the Miss Universe 2018 competition and surrounding events, Catriona wore designs that prominently featured fabrics from different provinces and communities of the Philippines.

She drew up a national costume that was loaded with symbolisms of Philippine culture. 

At the coronation night, we wore an evening gown inspired by Mount Mayon. 

No wonder DTI picked Catriona as the ambassador for the OTOP campaign. — LA, GMA News