So will they start using the hashtag #AussiePride?
An Australian tabloid is currently viral in the Philippines after it published a story about Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray on Monday where it called her “Miss Queensland” instead of “Miss Philippines.”
The Courier-Mail, a daily tabloid owned by News Corp. Australia, published the story on its front page where the word “Philippines” was crossed out in red, sparking fury among some Filipino netizens.
Here is what the tabloid’s front page looked like, which appeared on the publication’s official Twitter account.
The front page of tomorrow’s The Courier-Mail @couriermail pic.twitter.com/cdUNImCDqC
— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) December 17, 2018
Gray grew up in Cairns, Queensland, Australia and was born to a Scottish father and Filipino mother. She moved to the Philippines after high school to pursue a modeling career.
Her Miss Universe win led to a wellspring of happiness and pride from Filipinos, so many of those declaring #PinoyPride tweeted back to refute the tabloid.
@neotaku018 shared a screenshot of Gray’s Twitter account, where the words “Proud Pinay” were written.
sorry, no Queensland written. 🙈 pic.twitter.com/Qh1Dwe3Dwg
— neo ramirez de mateo (@neotaku018) December 18, 2018
@MsMarisseGarcia shared a Twitter post shared by Gray where she wrote: “For you, Philippines.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAhttps://t.co/UQSvsg1OqW
— Ms. Marisse 👑 (@MsMarisseGarcia) December 18, 2018
Meanwhile, Filipino netizens who saw the cover on Facebook thought that it was not amusing, such as Vanessa Sario.
She wrote: “I think what’s wrong here is they literally crossed out ‘Philippines’ and published it on [the cover of their] newspapers. I mean we are proud when a half-Pinoy half-whatever becomes successful but I don’t remember Pinoys disrespecting the other nationality involved.”
Yet many others tried to make light of the situation. Hannah Nacion said that in the Philippines, Queensland is “just a can of butter.”
That’s the truth, by the way.
It’s very common among Pinoys to claim celebrities who are of Filipino descent and say they are “proud” of their achievements, no matter how little Filipino blood they actually have.
Gray rarely talks about her Australian heritage in interviews and identifies as Filipino in public. She even credits her fans in the Philippines for her win.
