Catriona Gray. Image: Instagram/@catriona_gray
Catriona Gray has set foot in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the US, ahead of the 71st Miss Universe, where she was tapped to be one of the backstage commentators.
The Miss Universe 2018 titleholder was appointed as a backstage commentator for the upcoming coronation night, alongside Emmy Award-winning host Zuri Hall, who is also an “Access Hollywood” correspondent. Meanwhile, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and celebrity stylist Jeannie Mai-Jenkins will be the hosts for the pageant.
Gray shared photos of herself at an airport in New Orleans on her personal Instagram page on Friday, Jan. 13.
“30hours later….Touchdown New Orleans!! [airplane emoji] So excited for the #71stMissUniverse! I gotta catch up on the preliminary show! Who were your standouts,” she said in the caption.
Fellow celebrities including Hall, “Rupaul’s Drag Race season 3” finalist Manila Luzon, and Nicaraguan model Adriana Paniagua expressed their excitement over Gray’s arrival.
“See you sooooon,” Hall wrote.
“Welcome to the US,” Manila Luzon said.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@catriona_gray
Gray was crowned as the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe titleholder after Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973 and Pia Wurtzbach in 2015. Filipina-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi is competing for the country’s fifth crown on Saturday, Jan. 14 (morning of Jan. 15 in the Philippines). /ra
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