Miss Philippines Catriona Gray waves after being crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Catriona Gray from the Philippines was crowned Miss Universe on Monday, the fourth time the Southeast Asian country has won the international beauty pageant.
Gray, a 24-year-old Filipino-Australian model, won the title in the Thai capital Bangkok where the pageant included for the first time a transgender contestant.
Miss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts as she is named the winner while holding hands with Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
"My heart is filled with so much gratitude. There were moments of doubt where I felt overwhelmed and I felt the pressure," said Gray, who wore a red and orange dress that was inspired by Mount Mayon, a volcano that erupted this year.
Gray was asked during the contest about her views on legalizing marijuana and replied that she supported it for medical uses.
After she was crowned, Gray told reporters the question was "definitely relevant" and "an active topic", in an apparent reference to the war on drugs in the Philippines that has killed thousands of Filipinos and caused international alarm.
Miss Philippines Catriona Gray is crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Gray said during the pageant that working in a Manila slum had taught her to find beauty in difficult situations.
"If I could teach 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 face," she said.
Miss South Africa, Tamaryn Green, 24 was the first runner-up, followed by Miss Venezuela, Sthefany Gutiérrez, 19.
Miss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts after being crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Miss Spain, Angela Ponce, 27, made history as the first transgender contestant in the 66-year-old pageant.
Gray is the fourth Filipina to win Miss Universe and the second in three years. The pageant was shown live on the country's biggest television network and dominated social media.
Salvador Panelo, spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, said her win would put the country on the world map for its "beauty and elegance."
Miss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
"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 said.
The Philippines previously won Miss Universe titles in 2015, 1973 and 1969.
Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green competes during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in MANILA; editing by Darren Schuettler)
Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez performs with singer Ne-Yo during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaMiss Indonesia Sonia Fergina Citra, Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez and Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers react during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaMiss Philippines Catriona Gray competes during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaContestants selected for the top 5 are pictured during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. From L-R: Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez, Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green, Miss Philippines Catriona Gray, Miss Vietnam H'Hen Nie and Miss Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaSinger Ne-Yo performs during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaMiss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts as she is named the winner while holding hands with Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
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