MISS Philippines Catriona Gray finished in the Top 5 of the Miss World 2016 beauty pageant held in Maryland, USA last Sunday afternoon (early Monday morning in Manila).
Aside from Gray, Evelyn Thungu of Kenya also landed in the Top 5 of the longest-running beauty pageant in history.
Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss World 2016. First Princess was Yaritza Reyes of the Dominican Republic while Second Princess was Natasha Mannuela of Indonesia.
Cory Quirino, national director for Miss World Philippines, thanked those who supported Gray in her journey to the Miss World pageant.
“To reach Top 5 at the biggest pageant in the world is quite an achievement. Catriona Gray gave us all a stunning representation of the true Filipina – graceful and gracious up to the very end. While we all expected a Philippine victory, we should still consider a Top 5 placing as a blessing. We are extremely proud of Catriona, a real queen.
She may have not won the crown of Miss World but she has certainly won the hearts of many Filipinos worldwide.
Mabuhay and Pilipinas!” said Quirino in text message from the US sent after the pageant.
A day before the pageant, the Filipino-Australian beauty advanced to the semifinals of the pageant when she won the Multimedia Award.
Gray, 22, of Albay, Bicol, also made it to the Top 5 of the Beauty with a Purpose category which celebrates the advocacy of the candidates. She was also one of the Top 10 finalists for the Talent Competition.