‘Next level fierce’: Tyra Banks wowed by Catriona’s Miss Universe performance

The Philippines’ Catriona Gray, the newly crowned Miss Universe, has earned new fans from around the world after the widely watched telecast of the pageant on Monday. 

Tyra Banks, it appears, is among them.

The American model and TV host took to Twitter in her reaction to Gray’s performance shortly after the Filipina’s crowning moment in Bangkok, Thailand.

Banks quoted an earlier tweet from Gray responding to her. They previously exchanged tweets about Gray’s trending “slow-mo twirl” in the Miss Universe preliminary competition.

“OMG back at you! You did it!” Banks wrote. “And that walk and confidence? I mean… Next level fierce! TyTy approves.”

Banks, perhaps best known for her original televised “Top Model” search that has spawned international versions, is considered an influential force in the fashion world and has mentored many who aspire to be like her.

“Fierce,” in particular, is a term she has used to encourage or motivate modeling neophytes, as seen in her TV shows.

Gray brings to Filipinos an early “Christmas gift,” after having clinched a fourth Miss Universe crown for the country after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015).

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What Miss Universe Catriona Gray said in first IG post since crowning

“I’ll forever be your Miss Philippines,” went the first Instagram post of Catriona Gray since she was crowned Miss Universe 2018 on Monday.

In the post shared to her followers — which notably doubled to two million in 24 hours — the beauty queen recalled that in her childhood, her mother had a prophetic dream of sorts about the crowning moment.

“When I was 13, my mum told me, ‘Honey, I dreamt of you winning Miss Universe in a red dress.’ At that time I thought nothing of it, and today my mother’s dream came true,” she captioned a set of photos showing her winning moment in Bangkok, Thailand.

Gray wore a Mayon Volcano-inspired red gown by Mak Tumang for her final look in the weeks-long competition, which saw her ultimately besting 93 other candidates from around the world.

“Where do I even begin? Lord God, I lift everything up to you — to glorify and honor you,” Gray said.

She went on, addressing her country and countrymen: “Philippines, what an amazing honor it has been to carry your name across my chest and to embody you in all aspects. I may now carry the sash of Miss Universe, but I'll forever be your Miss Philippines.”

Gray concluded her post by thanking each member of the team behind her Miss Universe bid.

Gray, 24, brings to Filipinos an early “Christmas gift,” after having clinched a fourth Miss Universe crown for the country after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015).

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Catriona Gray crowned Miss Universe

BANGKOK -- Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe here Monday, capping a two-year long journey from her heartbreaking loss at Miss World to her rise as visionary beauty queen and social media star.

The 24-year-old Filipino-Australian won the Philippines' fourth Miss Universe crown, pulling all the stops from a giant lantern strapped to her back, a slow-motion twirl in a hot pink bikini, and a long gown in flame hues that symbolized a mythical Filipino bird.

Fans screamed at the IMPACT Arena here as outgoing Miss Universe Demi Leigh Nel Peters from South Africa crowned her successor.

Pia Wurtzbach last won the Miss Universe crown for the Philippines in 2015 and the succeeding edition was hosted in Manila.

Tamaryn Green of South Africa was first runner-up followed by Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez.

During the final question, Gray was asked "What is the most important lesson you've learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?"

She replied: "I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is... it's poor and very sad. And I've always taught myself to look for the beauty of it, to look for beauty in the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe, to see situations with a silver lining, and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. If I could teach also people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their faces. Thank you."

FROM THE WORLD TO THE UNIVERSE

Only 2 years ago, Gray was widely tipped to win the Miss World crown, a campaign that ended in defeat to Puerto Rico's Stephanie del Valle.

A photo of Gray weeping, clutching the Philippine flag close to her chest, made the rounds on social media platforms.

Miss World Philippines head Cory Quirino stepped down after Gray's defeat and the Philippines struggled to make the winner's circle of the London-based pageant since then.

Gray reemerged in January for the Binibining Pilipinas screenings, trading the high bun for long curls and the baby pink dress for a short red dress.

In an Instagram post at that time, Gray said much of her transformation happened away from the public eye.

The self-described "stubborn" and "visionary" beauty enlisted the help of a new team and went outside her old mentors' circle, which was largely behind the Philippines' hot streak at Miss Universe since Venus Raj broke the 10-year semifinals drought and finished in the top 5 in 2010.

The Philippines has made at least Top 10 at Miss Universe since Raj's breakthrough performance in Las Vegas. This year, the country's Miss International bet, Ahtisa Manalo placed first runner while Celeste Cortesi finished top 8 in Miss Earth.

FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Gray has 1 million followers on Instagram and her photo on the Miss Universe Facebook page was liked or loved by over 600,000 users, the most for any candidate.

She made ear cuffs a conversation piece when she wore a gold and diamond "three stars and the sun" on her right ear during her Miss Universe-Philippines crowning.

From there, her every move was rife with nationalist symbolism.

Her national costume, while difficult to walk in, paid homage to the Philippines' 3 main islands. A government body praised Gray for highlighting Filipino civilization before the Spanish occupation with her 'pintados' body suit.

Her fire orange and yellow gown stood out from a sea of sheer and gold tones, symbolizing both the Ibong Adarna, which can cure with song, and the rising phoenix from which the Miss Universe crown by Japanese jeweler Mikimoto was patterned after.

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‘Pinoy power to the max’: Tyra Banks has glowing words for Catriona Gray

She has probably seen it all, having screened countless of aspiring models strut on "America's Next Top Model," a fashion reality series she created and hosts that just wrapped up its 24th season.

So when former supermodel Tyra Banks gushes about a walk, it's perhaps the highest praise a model could receive in the runway world.

This Saturday, Banks' attention was turned towards Catriona Gray's "slow-mo twirl" during the Miss Universe preliminaries.

Her verdict? "I mean . . . Pinoy Power to the Max!!!" she tweeted after watching a recap of Gray's much-talked about performance.

This isn't the first time Banks has praised a Pinay. She is a known fan of young actress Maymay Entrata.

The 2018 Miss Universe is currently being held in Thailand, with the pageant's coronation night scheduled for this Monday.

source: news.abs-cbn.com