Catriona Gray says her desire to have siblings as a child inspired her charity work

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray on Thursday said her desire to have siblings as an only child motivated her to advocate for poor children and reach out to charities.

"Just to give a bit of a background, I'm so happy to be here because I really do work with children. Why am I drawn to working with children? Because I'm an only child and I always wish for siblings so I guess when I became an adult, I reached out to charity," Catriona said in a short speech at the FrontRow Cares: Charity for kids press conference.

Catriona Gray: “So happy to be here with a Miss Universe crown para sa pasko ng Pilipinas.” @gmanews pic.twitter.com/kMAr4tNN9G

— Jannie (@jannieannb) December 20, 2018

The newly crowned Miss Universe said working and helping children is something close to her heart.

"Working with children really touched my heart because they are so pure and you know they come into this life and this is the simple thing that make them happy and I think that this event is the perfect example of that where we can give something simple as a gift," Catriona said.

LOOK: Catriona Gray at the FrontRow Cares: Christmas Charity for kids press conference with the Miss Universe Organization @gmanews pic.twitter.com/F9oJ3Y9GKY

— Jannie (@jannieannb) December 20, 2018

Catriona encouraged everyone to "open up your hearts this Christmas and give whether it'd be small, whether it'd be large, or anything so make someone's Christmas season happy."

The newly crowned queen said she feels "super happy to be here with a Miss Universe crown para sa pasko ng Pilipinas."

At her send-off party for Miss Universe in November, Catriona said her Christmas wish was to bring home the crown.

"My Christmas wish for myself definitely is to be grounded through this whole journey to remain humble and to hopefully represent our country well, we're surrounded by such an amazing people, such an amazing family and friends and supporters and our team and my wish for the Philippines is to have a very safe Christmas season for everyone to experience joy, gratitude and sana bring home the crown."

Catriona is set to visit the Gentle Hands Foundation in Cubao this afternoon.

Catriona took home the country’s fourth Miss Universe crown after winning the pageant on Monday, December 17 in Bangkok Thailand. — LA, GMA News