Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s Adorable Little Miss Philippines 1999 Photo Surfaces

Filipino fans first laid their eyes on Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray when she joined Miss World Philippines in 2016. People from all around the world then started to recognize her when she placed in the Top 5 in the oldest running international beauty pageant.

Now, Catriona gained even more attention after winning Miss Universe 2018 on December 17, 2018, held at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. But some may not know this, Miss World Philippines was not her very first beauty pageant experience.

As it turns out, our new Miss Universe had always been a full-blooded beauty queen. Catriona joined Little Miss Philippines in Sydney, Australia in 1999 and won the pageant at the age of five.

Back in May 2016, Catriona shared a throwback photo of her during the contest.

“Relived a few childhood memories today going through some old photos! Always being a goofball and posing for pictures even then! and how cute was I in my first #LittleMissPhilippines pageant at 5 years old?…perhaps 17years is a long enough time to wait…?”

Now, fans have dug photos of Catriona during the Little Miss Philippines pageant that even the Miss Universe 2018 winner has never seen before.

The 24-year-old television host, singer, model, stage actress, and beauty pageant titleholder was so amazed by the finding that she shared it on social media, saying, “How did you guys find this? I’ve never seen this picture before. You guys are P.I. (Private Investigator) detective levels!!!” Catriona then added a “mindblown” emoji.

Just a day after the Miss Universe 2018 coronation, people are still talking about Catriona Gray’s answer in the final question and answer portion.

The top three contestants were asked the same question by host Steve Harvey: “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned and how will you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?”

Catriona answered:

“I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is poor and very sad. And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it and to look in the beauty of the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And this I think if I could teach also people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children will have a smile on their faces.”

Catriona is the fourth Filipina to win the Miss Universe title.