MANILA — Catriona Gray burst into laughter when ABS-CBN News asked her to comment on Filipino pageant fans showing, reposting and re-uploading her 2018 Miss Universe performance for the past six years, since Philippines has not won another crown after her.

She was tagged “Pambansang coping mechanism” by pageant aficionados.

“Tawang-tawa ako sa mga fans. Pero very grateful naman ako, but I’m very hopeful as well that we’ll have a fifth Miss Universe from the Philippines.”

She admits, she was shocked with the Top 5 roster of the 73rd Miss Universe.

“Medyo nagulat din ako with the landing of the Top 5. I had different predictions. I put a lot of weight on the Q&A, that’s the kind of judge that I would be if ever sit as a judge. Not saying that every judge is like that, I don’t know the criteria of Miss Universe actually ‘coz I have never sat as a judge yet. But I think Denmark would do an incredible job as our new Miss Universe.”

From the point of view of a previous Miss U queen, she was asked: Who should the Philippines send next?

“I think someone who really wants it. Na parang, I’d love seeing girls with gigil factor. And I love to see consistency, I know people would have different opinions pero para sa akin, like as soon as you step out of the door, at any given day, you give 110% talaga.”

Gray reiterated she is not a fan and does not believe in the ‘know when to peak’ strategy.

“I mean, the only thing that I would understand that approach, and I’ve applied it in mine, for example yung slow-mo turn ko. I previewed it sa preliminary na. I never used it in any other ganap. That’s preliminary na, kasi siyempre gusto ko papasok sa semis na agad. It’s okay naman if it comes out ulit in the finals pero you can pick and choose little easter eggs siguro, little surprises, pero when it comes to how you carry yourself, when you show like your cards, how I speak, what I stand for – for me dapat everyday yun!”

With conviction she said, the next candidate should have the ‘gigil factor’ right from the very beginning.

“Kasi job interview, everyday halos! You never know who’s watching! Para sa akin, better lang consistent.”