Catriona Gray donning her Miss Universe 2018 crown and sash. Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@catriona_gray
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray gave her stand on bullying and said she knows how it feels to take the brunt of being body shamed.
Gray, who is currently in New York City, recently took to social media to indulge her fans’ questions after a power outage crippled Manhattan over the weekend. Gray, who found herself sitting by candlelight during the blackout, decided to head over Twitter and chat with her fans for a bit.
Some of the questions her fans asked her concerned bullying and body shaming. One netizen (@WillowPontino) asked Gray on July 13 (July 14 in the Philippines), “What is your stand about online bullying and body shaming?”
As per Gray, she stands firmly against any form of bullying and bashing, both online and offline.
“It is never, ever okay to put someone down for the sake of ‘expressing your opinion,’” she said. “With words come power and we should be using those words to build someone up and not pull them down.”
Obviously I stand firmly against any form of bullying and bashing – online and off. It is never, ever okay to put someone down for the sake of "expressing your opinion". With words come power and we should be using those words to build someone up and not pull them down. 💛
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) July 14, 2019
She, too, told another netizen (@ucbbenet) that she knows how it feels to be body shamed, after she was asked about her take on it.
Gray did not drop any names, but her response came after Thai beauty queen Coco Arayha Suparurk reposted on Instagram Stories early this July a photo comparing herself with Gray.
The photo came from the page of Miss Grand Family, although it appears to have already been deleted. The photo tagged Suparurk as “fit’ and Gray as “fat,” although the Philippine Entertainment Portal on July 5 reported that some netizens have said the photo of Gray was edited. Suparurk was recently crowned Miss Grand Thailand 2019 on July 13.
“Bodyshaming is hurtful and [should] never be tolerated. If anyone reading this too has been bodyshamed, I know how it feels,” said Gray. “I’m sorry you’ve had to experience that. But [know] that you are more than your appearance. You are a capable, unique and worthy person. And you are never alone.”
Bodyshaming is hurtful and shld never be tolerated. If anyone reading this too has been bodyshamed, I know how it feels. I'm sorry you've had to experience that. But knw that you are more than your appearance. You are a capable, unique and worthy person. And you are never alone.
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) July 14, 2019
A certain Francois Benoit (@francois2) also asked Gray what her stance was on pageant site pages that engage in bullying and making fun of delegates from other countries, especially when Asians and Latinas are pitted against each other.
I dont condone any form of bullying or bashing. Even if it's in response to an initial comment or in the name of "protecting" or "standing up". If you respond to hate with hate, you have a never ending cycle. All of us have the power to be the difference, and I hope we will. 💙
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) July 14, 2019
Gray, again, said she does not condone any form of bullying or bashing — regardless if it is made in response to a comment or in the name of “standing up” for oneself.
“If you respond to hate with hate, you have a never ending cycle,” said Gray. “All of us have the power to be the difference, and I hope we will.” Cody Cepeda/JB
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