MANILA, Philippines – Catriona Gray is Miss World Philippines 2016!

Miss World Philippines 2015 Hillarie Parungao passed her crown on to Catriona on Sunday, October 2, at the Manila Hotel.

“I feel overwhelmed. Even though I had the support of the media and my friends and everything, I still wasn’t expecting to win,” said Catriona, a fan favorite through the competition, in an interview after her win.

“I knew that it was any girl’s game. I just wanted to give it my all. I wanted to make sure I gave it a hundred and ten percent, and it’s such a rewarding feeling that I’m feeling right now, because this is the result. The crown is on my head, and that is just so rewarding.”

But before Catriona won the crown, she had to compete against the other contestants on October 2.

Aside from the swimsuit and long gown competitions, she also had to answer questions when after she made it to the Top 12 and the Top 5.

For the Top 12 question and answer round, contestants had to pick a random question from a bowl.

Catriona was asked, “When you get up in the morning and look in the mirror, what do you see?”

She answered, “I see someone who is constantly trying to be better. I’ve always endured to always be better than the day before, to do things that challenge me, to do things outside the box. And something that is very fulfilling that I have found is when I look in the mirror, I want to see someone who gives back to the community, and that’s someone who I achieve to be every single day.”

When it was down to the Top 5, all contestants were asked, “Why should you be the next Miss World Philippines?”

“To be a Miss World is to be passed a torch that burns with passion, and purpose,” said Catriona. “If I become Miss World Philippines, I will carry my voice and my essence to carry that torch and to set charitable causes alight, such as my personal advocacy, the Paraiso Bright Beginnings Project. And I would focus on passing on this torch to empower others because I believe together, there is no darkness in this world that our light cannot overcome.”

On preparing for the international pageant, to be held at Washington, DC, USA, on December 18, Catriona said, “I will try and get every aspect, because Miss World is so well-rounded, my talent… my multimedia [projects], which I know my fans will support me in, and also all the other aspects of Miss World, I will throw myself into them wholeheartedly.”

Were you rooting for Catriona to win Miss World Philippines 2016? Do you think she’ll take home the international crown? Sound off in the comments! – Rappler.com