Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s Instagram game is strong.
So strong, in fact, that she managed to double her followers on the social media platform after winning.
In an Instagram post yesterday, the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe titleholder thanked fans after she hit 1 million followers.
“1 MILLION OF YOU?!?? Thank you for joining in this journey with me!!!” she said.
Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram
But Gray quickly beat this milestone. As of this article’s publishing, she now has 2.4 million followers.
Gray was named Miss Universe 2018 during the pageant’s coronation night at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday morning.
International pageants are a big deal in the Philippines. Apart from providing winners a jumpstart in their careers, they’re also seen as venues for Filipino representation in the world stage.
Gray was crowned after only a three-year gap, following Pia Wurtzbach who won in 2015.
Wurtzbach herself congratulated Gray through an Instagram post yesterday with a caption that reads:
“This girl is on fire! You started strong and captured our hearts with your grace, commitment and fearlessnes! And that walk…how could anyone forget that walk? Now, you’ve conquered the Universe! This is just the beginning. Congratulations, Miss Universe 2018 @catriona_gray! You have made us all proud! Raise your flag!”
Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram
According to ABS-CBN News, Wurtzbach’s photo now holds the record for being the most liked post in the Philippines with more than 1.3 million hearts as of this posting.
Gray is also nearing the 1 million mark on Facebook where her page currently has more than 980,000 likes. Over on Twitter, she has 303,000 followers.
Philippine social media blew up after Gray’s win yesterday.
Many were elated, sharing congratulatory messages and declarations of #PinoyPride, but some were also critical of the beauty queen.
Brewing on social media right now is a debate about Gray’s response in the Q&A round.
Host Stevey Harvey asked: “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life, and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?”
To which Gray responded: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very, it’s poor, and it’s very sad.
“And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it, to look in the beauty in 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 could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their face. Thank you.”
Some think her answer was problematic for romanticizing poverty, while her supporters are blasting critics for bringing her down.
https://twitter.com/ampoonmrose/status/1074655159093944321
Others noted that there should be room for these criticisms.
Twitter user @AlfonsoLabrague wrote: “The answer of Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 re the PH-US relations is problematic. She was criticized. The view of Catriona Gray on poverty is also problematic. She has to be criticized as well. After all, criticisms are meant to improve them and not pull them down.#MissUniverse”
https://twitter.com/AlfonsoLabrague/status/1074576674157547520
How did you react to Gray’s Miss Universe win? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
