Maggie Wilson (Instagram/@wilsonmaggie); Catriona Gray (Instagram/@missuniverse)
Former beauty queen Maggie Wilson said she acknowledges her mistakes in the past, one of them dropping a comment on now newly crowned Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray made months ago.
The Binibining Pilipinas-World 2007 candidate, along with Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago, commented in March that Gray did not deserve to bag the best swimsuit award during the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night.
READ: Former beauty queens annoy Catriona fans for saying she doesn’t deserve best swimsuit award
Gray was crowned as this year’s Miss Universe on Monday, Dec. 17, at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. She bested 93 other candidates from around the globe, and is the fourth Filipina to win the crown.
READ: Philippines’ Catriona Gray is Miss Universe 2018
Months after the issue, it appears some netizens have not moved on about the issue. This started when Wilson simply shared that she was “off to another adventure” in an Instagram post Sunday, Dec. 16.
However, one netizen going by @smile0623 asked Wilson’s opinion now that Gray was hailed as Miss Universe. The former beauty queen replied: “Well deserved! I’ve congratulated her already.”
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@wilsonmaggie
Santiago even guessed that Wilson flew to Canada for a vacation. Her comment spurred several replies, mocking the two with Gray’s win. One netizen, @shoppingdistict888, told Santiago that she could not handle being Miss Universe if she won.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@wilsonmaggie
Having enough, Wilson took to Instagram once again on Tuesday, Dec. 17, to settle the matter. She posted a throwback photo of herself enjoying the sunset at Havana, Cuba.
She recalled that on her last night in the city, she found herself crying at the dinner table. ” I wasn’t sure at first why I was so emotional but then as the sun set I realised just how lucky I am,” Wilson said.
Wilson also noted that she kept changing her Instagram settings because of the “immense backlash” she got from what she said months ago.
“I have made mistakes but have learnt and made peace with them and I refuse to be vilified by them,” Wilson shared. “Your mistakes aren’t what defines you but it is how you behave and learn from them after you’ve committed one.”
Now, she said she opened the comments section of her account once again, but stressed she would not tolerate negativity on her page. “There is enough of it going around already,” Wilson added. “If any of you decide to continue with the anger, mockery and negativity then you are no better.”
But has she made amends with Gray? Wilson confirmed this in reply to a netizen’s comment, saying she apologized to her last March 22. She added that she still had the message on her phone.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@wilsonmaggie
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