WARTA KOTA, PALMERAH ------- Catriona Gray dari Filipna terpilih menjadi Miss Universe 2018 , mengalahkan wakil dari Afrika Selatan, Tamaryn Green yang menjadi runner-up pertama di Malam Grand Final yang berlangsung di Bangkok, Thailand, Senin (17/12/2018).
Sementara itu, Puteri Indonesia 2018, Sonia Fergina Citra atau akrab disapa Sonia, ini masuk Top 20 Miss Universe 2018, setelah harus bersaing dengan 84 finalis lainnya memperebutkan mahkota dan gelar Miss Universe 2018 yang akhirnya diraih Catriona Gray dari Filipina.
Meski begitu keberhasilan Sonia ini mendapat apresiasi dari masyarakat yang tentu saja dirasakan sangat membanggakan masyarakat Indonesia tentunya.
Selama mengikuti Miss Universe 2018, Sonia menyatakan rasa syukurnya bisa masuk Top 20 Miss Universe berkat dukungan dan arahan semua pihak sejak awal persiapan hingga terpilih sebagai Top 20 Miss Universe 2018.
“Saya bangga dan terharu bisa masuk di posisi Top 20 Miss Universe 2018, saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada seluruh masyarakat Indonesia dan sejumlah pihak yang telah mendukung saya di ajang ini”, kata Sonia dalam siaran pers yang diterima Wartakotalive.com, Senin (17/12/2018).
Menurut Ketua Dewan Pembina Yayasan Puteri Indonesia, Putri Kus Wisnu Wardani mengatakan. Indonesia patut berbangga atas upaya Sonia yang mampu bersaing dengan peserta lain dari 84 negara, dan berhasil masuk dalam jajaran bergengsi di Top 20.
"Mudah mudahan dengan keberhasilan ini akan semakin tumbuh kesadaran masyarakat dan pemerintah akan manfaat ajang beauty pageant internasional ini dan kesuksesan Indonesia mengikuti ajang ini ini mempunyai arti yang lebih besar dari sekedar memenangkan pageant semata", ujar Putri Kus Wisnu Wardani.
Sebelumnya, Sonia beserta finalis lainnya mengikuti karantina yang berlangsung sejak tanggal 28 November hingga 17 desember 2018, di mana para pesertanya berkewajiban mengikuti serangkaian kegiatan dan penjurian berupa deep interview dan babak preliminary competition berupa peragaan gaun malam dan busana renang dan pada malam final dipilih 20 kontestan terbaik yang berhak melaju ke babak final yang kemudian dikerucutkan menjadi TOP 10, TOP 5, dan TOP 3 untuk juara 1,2 dan 3.
Delegasi Indonesia di ajang Miss Universe 2018 (ist)
Miss Universe merupakan ajang kontes kecantikan tingkat dunia yang memiliki prestisius tertinggi karena peserta Miss Universe dinilai bukan semata dari kecantikannya saja namun yang terpenting juga kecerdasaan, dan sopan santun/ perilaku yang baik yang dikenal dengan 3B yaitu Brain, Beauty, dan Behavior.
Pertama di Sejarah, Transgender Ikuti Ajang Miss Universe 2018
TRIBUNKALTIM.CO - Ada yang berbeda dari Miss Universe 2018 yang baru saja selesai digelar di Bangkok, Thailand.
Pasalnya, Miss Universe selama ini dikenal sebagai ajang bagi para perempuan cantik dan berbakat dari seluruh dunia untuk berkompetisi meraih mahkota sebagai "Ratu Sejagat".
Meski demikian, siapa sangka salah satu kontestannya merupakan seorang transgender, atau laki-laki yang secara fisik mengubah jenis kelaminnya menjadi perempuan.
Gadis 24 Tahun Asal Filipina Juarai Miss Universe 2018, Ini Fakta-faktanya
Dia adalah wakil dari Spanyol , Angela Ponce. Keikutsertaan seorang transgender ini merupakan yang kali pertama sepanjang sejarah diadakannya Miss Universe sejak 1952.
Dikutip dari Time, Angela mengaku jalannya untuk mencapai panggung Miss Universe tidaklah mudah.
Sebelumnya, ia berhasil mengalahkan 22 kontestan lain saat mendapatkan mahkota Ratu Kecantikan Spanyol 2018 atau Miss Spain 2018, beberapa waktu sebelumnya.
Namun, kemenangan dia sempat terganjal peraturan bahwa seorang transgender tidak bisa memenangkan kompetisi kecantikan.
Hingga akhirnya peraturan itu diubah seiring munculnya peraturan dari Miss Universe yang mengijinkan seorang transgender untuk mencapai kemenangan.
Gadis Filipina Jadi Miss Universe 2018, Ini 4 Pemenang Miss Universe Asal Negara Lumbung Padi Asean
“Saya berkompetisi karena itu yang saya inginkan sejak kecil. Saya tunjukkan bahwa transgender bisa menjadi apa saja yang mereka inginkan, guru, ibu, dokter, politisi, dan bahkan Miss Universe,” kata Angela.
The spotlight is on Catriona Gray – and she sure is making the most of it
Published 7:00 PM, December 16, 2018
MANILA, Philippines – On Monday, December 17 (Manila time), viewers from around the world will watch as a new Miss Universe titleholder is crowned in Bangkok, Thailand. Filipinos – both hardcore and casual fans alive – will definitely tune in to watch.
The Philippines is hoping to grab its 4th crown courtesy of Filipino-Australian Catriona Gray. Online betting sites, pageant observers, and even former beauty queens think she has what it takes to win and be this year's Miss Universe.
Representing the Philippines
From the moment she went on stage during the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night in March, it was clear that Catriona wasn't just out to get the Miss Universe Philippines crown – she wanted to represent the Philippines in a very real way through her outfits. (READ: From Miss World Philippines 2016 to Miss Universe Philippines 2018: The journey of Catriona Gray)
Her ear cuff by Tessera jewelry and gown by Mak Tumang caught everyone's attention. The ear cuff, now known as "3 Stars and a Sun," was so popular that it was copied by fans and some international candidates.
In her interview on the Bottomline before she left for Bangkok, Catriona talked about her love for Filipino textiles – and she made sure these would be incorporated in her outfits for Miss Universe. (IN PHOTOS: PH culture, textiles takes spotlight in Catriona Gray's Miss Universe outfits)
Her national costume did just that and more – it had elements from the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The design was a collaboration of Catriona with Jearson Demavivas, Jojo Bragais, and Eric Quiwa.
To explain the story behind it, a series of videos created by Catriona's team was posted on her YouTube account. For the videos, Catriona traveled to Pampanga, Rizal, Manila, Leyte, and South Cotabato to show the country's rich culture and heritage. (WATCH: Catriona Gray showcases PH's rich heritage in new video)
But she did not stop there – she shot a video in Gigantes Island, where she emerged like a water nymph from the sea.
For the preliminary competition last December 13, everyone looked forward to the gown she'd wear. While designer Mak Tumang released 4 out of 7 possible gown sketches, Catriona surprised everyone by wearing the now-famous Ibong Adarna-inspired gown. Tessera also created another show stopping accesory – earrings called the "Pearl of the Orient."
It's these elements in her outfits – both big and small – that prove how serious she is in representing the Philippines. And while Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and queens before her also championed Filipino designers, Catriona took things one notch higher.
From torchbearer to on fire
When she competed in Miss World in 2016, she spoke about being a torchbearer. Two years later, she isn't just the torcherbearer – she's the fire. (WATCH: Catriona Gray inspires in 'We're In This Together' music video)
Filipinos are clearly behind her. Artwork of her have been flooding social media since she won Miss Universe Philippines and her national costume has also inspired more artists to shared their sketches and portraits. (READ: Meet the man behind this string art portrait of Catriona Gray)
Clearly, this girl is well loved not only in the Philippines but all over the world. Fans in Latin America and even Asian countries have expressed the admiration and support for her in the competition.
Former Miss Universe Canada Siera Bearchell has raved about her on her YouTube videos and supermodel Tyra Banks even commented on her now-famous "lava walk."
I mean...Pinoy Power to the Max!!! https://t.co/ar22wLvw2k — Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) December 15, 2018
As she prepares for the finale on Monday, December 17, Catriona knows she's coming in with the weight of an expectant, hopeful, and pageant-crazy nation on her shoulders. But as early as now, she's managed to unite Filipinos and will always be their queen – crown or no crown.
BANGKOK, Thailand — Much has been said about Philippine bet Catriona Gray but in her introduction video for Miss Universe 2018, the 24-year-old Bicolana beauty revealed her long-time passion for music.
“I am a creative person,” Gray said.
Gray shared that her mother would tell her that she was already dancing along to music when she was still in the womb.
“I really found that once I started painting and doing drama and then eventually leading into music which is one of my greatest passions now,” Gray said.
“It just was fulfilling in a way that everything else wasn't,” she added.
During the preliminary competition of Miss Universe 2018, the Filipina-Australian bet was described as a former martial artist, who earned a black belt for Korean martial arts Choi Kwang Do when she was 12 years old.
Gray is also a fashion model and singer.
Get to know Gray in this snippet of her introduction video for Miss Universe, shared by the pageant organization.
