Aside from her singing and hosting stints, Catriona Gray now taking acting workshops

Catriona Gray

“Like in all things I do, I like to be prepared,” said Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray of her decision to attend acting workshops in preparation for future roles on TV and the big screen.

“There are offers and I’m very much open to these opportunities. I’m just waiting for the right one, but I also don’t want to just walk on tip toes or simply dip my feet into things and not really be fully prepared for it,” Catriona told reporters during a media gathering organized by TV5 on Thursday morning.

As to the genre she is most interested in, Cat, who is now into singing and events hosting, said she would love to do an action project. “I did karate when I was young, so, hopefully, my knowledge in that martial art will help me with the fight scenes,” she told Inquirer Entertainment.

“My supporters can expect more outreach trips with Smile Train. It’s really giving me a lot of joy to be acting as its global ambassador even after my reign,” said Cat of the nonprofit organization that provides corrective surgery for children with clef lips and palettes.

“In music, expect more live performances. Also, I’m really enjoying my foray in hosting,” said the cohost of the reality-survival show, “Top Class: Rise to P-pop Stardom,” which recently concluded its run on TV5 and Kumu.

“I’m really excited because we have recently just formed a new group—the Top Class 5—although this isn’t their official name yet. I can’t wait to witness their debut performance. The show is really all about the journey. Yes, there’s natural talent that you walk in the door with, but with the right mentor and the right opportunities to enhance and develop your skills, you can really reach great things,” Catriona pointed out.

Catriona and boyfriend, actor Sam Milby, also appeared as celebrity guests in an episode of Amazon Prime Video’s Global Child “Travel with Purpose,” hosted by American Augusto Valverde.

First project together

Catriona Gray (right) with boyfriend Sam Milby

“It was nice. It’s our first project together on screen,” beamed Catriona. She added that her relationship with Sam continues to blossom because “we both know our priorities. We not only make time for each other but also support each other in whatever we want to pursue.”

Catriona believes she and Sam are compatible “because we have the same values and the same faith. I also think it’s because we really understand each other’s line of work and respect each other’s ambitions so we’re very supportive of each other.”

Responsibility as title holder

Catriona further shared her two cents’ worth on the news that organizers of the Miss Universe beauty pageant have decided to expand their criteria for eligibility, to include candidates who are already married or have children, starting 2023.

While Catriona said that “this is a great step toward the direction of inclusivity,” she also thought that “considerations should be given if the winner is a mother of young children because the reality is, for that year, she has responsibilities as a title holder. Sometimes, you don’t get to dictate or say that you want to stay in this country for this amount of time. You’re really at the helm of the job.”

She continued: “If I were to put myself in the shoes of a young mother, it’s one thing to go after the dream of being a Miss Universe—I’d feel empowered that I am able to do so—but at the same time I would also wonder how would I balance being present in my children’s lives while fulfilling the commitments and responsibilities of being a Miss Universe. I know because I’ve experienced the grueling schedules. I kind of think that there has to be some sort of thing in place to be able to prioritize both things.”

Also at the event held at the TV5 studios in Mandaluyong City, Catriona was introduced as one of the local ambassadors of the Fiba Basketball World Cup 2023, which the Philippines will be hosting next year alongside Japan and Indonesia. The other ambassadors are the members of the 2013-2014 Gilas Pilipinas team, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan and Gary David.

“My reaction when I first heard of the news was excitement. My next thought was, ‘How are we going to best represent the country because we’re sharing the job with Japan and Indonesia? How are we going to make our country stand out? How are we going to contribute to making the event memorable for everyone who watches us on the screen or who travels here to watch the games,” Catriona pointed out.

“I participated in the group’s brainstorming session. I definitely have a lot of ideas as to how we can go about it, but I’m also looking forward to traveling to the provinces alongside the other ambassadors and really getting that on-ground approach to really see the younger generations and, hopefully, foster that love and want to pursue the sport of basketball.”