Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray proves that she deserves the crown when she made her final walk at the Big Dome in Quezon City, Sunday.
Gray captivated the audience both with her heartfelt speech and her gown which was a stunner during the coronation night.
Mak Tumang, Gray’s designer, shared his inspiration behind the gown the outgoing Miss Universe Philippines wore in her farewell walk: the Waling-Waling flower.
“The Waling-waling is a paragon of unmitigated beauty. Many regard it as the rarest, most beautiful and the most expensive among all the flora our country has. This rightfully gives justice to its being dubbed as the “Queen of Philippine Flowers”. Moreover, even the native Bagobos revered it as a “diwata” (fairy) because of its unparalleled and captivating beauty. This representation fits perfectly to what our Miss Universe Catriona Gray is,” Tumang wrote.
The brains behind the creations of Gray’s winning gowns like the Lava gown adds: “The Queen of the Filipinos’ hearts bids farewell to her reign here. Yet, she will incessantly reach and touch the bright sun, making her justly symbolic of the Filipino’s unceasing hope and tenacity.”
Gray said that she will forever be thankful for the opportunity to represent the country.
“My heart is overflowing with gratitude because here, on this exact stage, I was given the chance to pursue this dream. This journey has been made even more meaningful because every single step of the way, I felt each and everyone of you right there with me,” she said.”
