“MY life has changed so much, guys!” ‘Yan ang ipinagdiinan ni 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray sa pagbabalik niya sa bansa mula sa New York.
Nilibot ni Catriona ang ilang lugar sa Metro Manila kamakalawa para sa kanyang homecoming parade at talagang dinumog siya ng mga tao sa bawat kalyeng dinaanan ng kanyang lava-inspired float.
“Since that crown was placed on my head, everything just almost feeling like in an instant my life has changed. I went from being a voice to the Philippine to a voice to the international audience,” sabi ng dalaga.
Inamin ni Cat na napi-feel pa rin niya ang pressure sa bawat bagay na kanyang ginagawa, lalo na ang muling pagharap sa milyun-milyong Filipino na sumuporta sa laban niya sa nakaraang Miss Universe.
“With that, there comes a little bit of pressure, but there’s also an amazing opportunity. And throughout the last two months, it’s been something that I’ve been navigating with the guidance of my Miss Universe family, also with the people who’ve surrounded me and who have supported me.
“The things that I do that I’m challenged with, of course, being away from home, being away from my friends and my family. But I also realized that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in a year.
“Even though the year will just go by so fast, so I really have been busy making plans about things that I want to do during my reign. And I really hope to leave a positive impact as a Miss Universe 2018,” mahabang paliwanag ni Cat.
Ayon pa sa dalaga, sa gitna ng kasikatan at atensyon na nakukuha niya sa buong universe, palagi niyang isinasapuso ang pagiging humble at grounded, “This is something that I feel like I will really be tested on this year.
“Just because really as a titleholder, you’re flung into that platform overnight. There’s no gradual build, it’s just you’re crowned and you’re there. I always just remind myself why I do what I do. Why I have Miss Universe, why I pursue this in the first place?
“For me, it’s my advocacy. For me, it’s to give that organization or that cause a voice on a bigger platform. But also, I feel like a lot of it is going to be about me keeping my friends and family close.
“I feel like it’s always important to have people around you that you trust to kind of keep you in check. I feel like, ‘Hey, Cat, it’s time to settle down.’ Or you know, just people that you love that kind of keeps you in check.
“I feel very blessed that I do have that circle of friends and I do that have family and that’s how I’m gonna deal with it,” ang chika pa ni Catriona Gray.