Donning on the Louis Vuitton x Fornasetti collection and a supermodel-inspired bob cut, read an excerpt of this month’s cover star Catriona Gray.
Related: Catriona Gray Is Coloring Beyond The Lines of Change In This New Project
Now known the world over, Catriona — a fan favorite for her famous sultry “lava walk” — was crowned Miss Universe in 2018. Three years since her majestic coronation, she now funnels her 12 million-strong Instagram following to promote awareness on and siphon donations to her many partner charities. She endorses a breadth of coveted brands like Cream Silk and Samsung. Even “Deja Vu” crooner Olivia Rodrigo calls herself a fan. Now, she’s ready for more.
Sharing that validation, show business dreams, and bringing recognition to the country are common guesses. “But mine was really to try and make a difference by being a spokesperson.” She did — throughout her reign and beyond. After passing on the crown in 2019, she felt even more compelled to continue social work post-win because she felt like she “needed to prove to people that there is a purpose within pageantry.” She went on mission trips and partnered with organizations including Red Cross, Department of Trade and Industry, and the National Commission of Culture and Arts (NCAA) to spotlight local Philippine businesses, among others, despite being “blindsided” by the pandemic that upended lives across the globe just three months after her reign ended. “It became a very fulfilling year, 2020, because I was able to keep busy working with the community,” she shares.
Looking back on the rest of the year she had, she jokes, “I think I’ve really become an adult.” Citing new hobbies like cooking, appliance shopping, working out at home, and, though her plants “die regularly,” becoming a plant mom as the activities keeping her busy (beauty queens, they’re just like us). She also spends “a lot” of time with her dogs prominently featured on her social media, saying, “I’ve become a dog mom, they bring me so much joy.”
A self-proclaimed low-maintenance person, she also shares, “Investing more time into a beauty routine, it feels therapeutic for me.” She tries to get down her skincare regimen to “as few products as possible” saying, “I hate being wasteful. I refuse to throw products away.” She always removes makeup, double cleanses, and uses a facial steamer before applying clay masks. Style-wise, her usual go-to of sophisticated, classic cuts, usually featuring Philippine textiles or accessories, have been replaced by comfortable outfits. Not sweatshirts, she’s quick to clarify, but “never ever” heels.
Read more about how Catriona Gray is taking up space according to her own terms in MEGA’s September issue now available in Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio
Photography JERICK SANCHEZ
Creative direction JANN PASCUA assisted by NICOLE ALMERO
Fashion direction and styling LYN ALUMNO assisted by CLARISSE FURIO
Beauty Direction TRINA EPILEPSIA BOUTAIN
Makeup JELLY EUGENIO
Hair BRENT SALES
Production Design TIPPING POINT COLLECTIVE
Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA and LOUIS ESGUERRA
Special thanks to CORNERSTONE ENTERTAINMENT, ERICKSON RAYMUNDO, JEFF VADILLO, LIZ ALVAREZ
Discover the full Louis Vuitton FW21 and Capucines Collections when the LV Philippines flagship store opens in October 2021 at Greenbelt 3.