Catriona Gray paid a courtesy call on President Duterte at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City Thursday before she departed for New York City to begin her official duties as Miss Universe.
Gray arrived in the country Wednesday after her victory at the beauty pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand Monday.
The newly-crowned Miss Universe met Duterte around 6:20 p.m.
According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte thanked Gray for bringing the crown and that every Filipino is euphoric about her win.
Malacañang has hailed Gray for making the country proud and bringing to center stage the “genuine qualities defining a Filipina beauty.”
“Miss Gray truly made the entire Philippines proud when she sashayed on the global stage and showcased the genuine qualities defining a Filipina beauty: Confidence, grace, intelligence, and strength in the face of tough challenges,” Panelo said.
“In her success, Miss Philippines has shown to the world that women in our country have the ability to turn dreams into reality through passion, diligence, determination, and hard work,” he added.
The Palace official said Gray’s triumph sets the bar high in empowering more Filipino women to believe in themselves and to fight for their own place. (Argyll Geducos)
