Catriona Gray
For many pageant aficionados, South African beauty queen Zozibini Tunzi has huge shoes to fill as Miss Universe because last year’s winner, Catriona Gray, set the bar so high.
“I’m very flattered by that comment. I wanted people to look into my year and say, ‘I see Catriona there.’ And I feel that I’ve already done that because I’ve always been community-oriented. And to see people taking notice of that has been very fulfilling,” the 2018 winner told Inquirer Entertainment during her last trip to the Philippines before relinquishing her title.
Zozibini inherited Catriona’s crown when she bested 89 other delegates for the 2019 Miss Universe crown in ceremonies staged at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, on Dec. 8 (Dec. 9 in Manila).
“I’m definitely going to continue the work that I’m doing and getting involved in different communities, not just in the Philippines, but also in other communities around the world,” Catriona said during a Christmas party last month hosted by Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee for children under the care of Young Focus Foundation.
“It’s really the kind of work that I love doing,” added Catriona, the fourth Filipino woman to wear the Miss Universe crown.
Miss Universe manager Esther Swan, who was always beside Catriona during her reign, told Inquirer Entertainment that she will miss “everything” about the Filipino queen.
“She’s always here (pointing to her heart). ‘I feel Filipina, I am Filipina,’” Esther continued.
Catriona promised to be more visible in the Philippines, but shared that she may pursue opportunities in music and “cause work” outside the country. She said she hoped to weave her love of music into her advocacy.
Aside from Gray, the other Filipino Miss Universe winners are Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973) and Pia Wurtzbach (2015).
This year’s representative, Gazini Ganados, finished in the Top 20, sustaining the Philippines’ semifinal streak that was started by Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj in 2010.
Beginning 2020, a new team will select the country’s representative to the global tilt, with 2011 Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee assuming the national directorship for the Philippines.
In her official Instagram account, the 33-year-old multihyphenate and mother of two said, “I am honored with my new role for the organization that brought meaning to my life as a beauty queen and as a woman. I am more than blessed to be the national director of Miss Universe Philippines.”
The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., which has held the Miss Universe license for the Philippines since 1964, issued a statement on its official Facebook page confirming the Miss Universe Organization’s decision not to renew their partnership.