Lance Joseph Martinez

Beyond Pageants and Hosting: Catriona Gray Shares Why “Every Christmas” Holds a Special Place in Her Heart

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<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764301268301CAT232-Edit-2-min.jpg" style="display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Catriona Gray for her latest single, &quot;Every Christmas&quot; | Photo courtesy of Cornerstone</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>No one was more iconic in 2018<strong></strong> than <strong>Catriona Gray</strong>.</p><p>After winning the<strong> Miss Universe </strong>crown that year, her career has soared nonstop—spanning television projects, commercials, advocacy work, and frequent appearances in both local and international pageants as a sought-after host or judge. Her presence has remained strong in the public eye, a testament to how she continues to evolve beyond pageantry.</p><p>For Catriona, having a packed calendar is something she considers a blessing. But she’s also clear about one thing: she needs to maintain a healthy balance between her work and personal life. She makes it a point to constantly communicate with her team about her needs—something she’s grateful for, as her team always understands and supports her boundaries.</p><p>“When they book my schedule, I usually have Sundays off, or they really respect it if I say, ‘Guys, I’m feeling a little bit burnt out. Can I please block off a day here?’ Very understanding <em>naman sila</em>. Which I’m very grateful for because I think work culture and hustle culture are always super glorified,” she shared in an exclusive interview with <strong>Metro.Style.</strong></p><p>Part of how she maintains balance is through wellness. Whether it’s Pilates, running, walking, or a simple workout, she always makes sure she moves every day—even if it’s just for 20 minutes. For her, health is a priority. “Not because <em>may sakit ako</em>, but because I don’t want to be sick. And I want to live a really high-quality life,” she said.</p><p>This intentional balance allows her to show up fully for her work, delivering quality results—a personal standard she takes seriously. And one area that has grown to become a major focus for her is hosting.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764301292121CAT350_11zon.jpg" style="display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764301327140CAT482_11zon-min.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Recently, Catriona joined <strong>Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza </strong>and <strong>Miss World 2025 Suchata Chuangsri </strong>as hosts of the grand <strong>Miss Sultan Kudarat </strong>pageant, a local competition that drew significant attention. Aside from this, she has been a backstage correspondent for the Miss Universe pageant from 2022 to 2024, further expanding her already impressive portfolio of hosting engagements.</p><p>But despite her robust hosting experience, Catriona still has a dream project. “If I could have a dream project in the position of a host, I would love one of those shows, <em>hindi ko alam kung alam niyo</em>, like there’s a <em>Say I Do</em> show on Netflix. <em>Kinu</em>-curate <em>nila ‘yung </em>perfect wedding. And <em>na</em>-surprise &#x27;<em>yung</em> future wife or future husband <em>nila</em>. It’s almost very same treatment as Queer Eye, <em>‘yung talagang</em> outreach to an individual <em>na</em> nominated,” she revealed.</p><p>Catriona Gray’s talent as a host isn’t just about charm or presence—it’s her exceptional communication skills that truly set her apart. From delivering memorable answers during pageant Q&amp;As to offering insightful commentary on socio-political topics, she has long been celebrated for her poise, eloquence, and clarity.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764301357301CAT271_11zon.jpg" style="display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>And according to her, the key lies in staying informed. Whenever something relevant happens in the country, she makes sure to educate herself—not because she intends to speak publicly right away, but because she wants to understand what’s going on.</p><p>“If I’m given the opportunity and I feel like I can speak up about it, I will. But more so because if I’m to share something,<em> gusto ko may </em>understanding <em>ako</em>. <em>Ayoko na parang</em> empty <em>na</em> pray for the Philippines or something.<em> Gusto ko may may</em> contribution <em>sana ako kahit maliit</em>,<em></em>” she said.</p><p>She added that fostering healthy conversations is part of her responsibility. “And also, if I have been able to garner understanding, I want to then encourage my audience to figure out where they stand as well. Not to say, believe this because I believe this, or have this opinion because I have this opinion. No, but like, let’s talk about it. And kind of educate each other. So, <em>hindi naman siya </em>training. I think stewarding the platform in a responsible way.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176430106064014-min.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="display:block"/></div><div><br/></div><p>But beyond hosting and pageantry, Catriona is returning to one of her earliest and most heartfelt passions this Christmas season—music. Long before she set foot on a pageant stage, Catriona grew up in a home filled with melodies, thanks largely to her father,<strong> Ian Gray.</strong></p><p>She recalls how music was always present in their home. Although her father never pursued a music career, she describes him as a “fantastic singer” who always filled their house with his voice.</p><p>“Favorites <em>niya ‘yung mga</em><strong> Frank Sinatra</strong>,<strong> Elvis Presley</strong>. So, I think I grew up with that appreciation for that older type of music. And the joy that it brought him,” she shared.</p><p>Her love for music doesn’t just come from her father—it also runs in her blood. Her paternal grandfather, whom she never met, was a self-taught violinist. She believes this influence played a role in her connection to music.</p><p>“<em>Siya din ang </em>number one fan <em>ko</em>,” Catriona said of her father. Whenever they talked, he would always ask her the same question: “When are you doing music? When are you doing singing?”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-nPbu0cKOI?si=cDamMRgCzMH8cmaM" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>And this Christmas season, she finally gives him the answer he’s been waiting for. After four years, Catriona is returning to music with the release of her Christmas single, <strong>“Every Christmas</strong>,<strong>”</strong> a collaboration with certified hitmaker <strong>Jason Marvin.</strong></p><p>Jason, known for writing chart-toppers like<strong> “Kumpas,” “Ikaw at Ako,”</strong> and<strong> “Paubaya,” </strong>teamed up with Catriona to create a bittersweet holiday track. The song captures the feeling of imagining a happier Christmas, while privately longing for someone who isn’t there.</p><p>“Instead of feeling that comfort and that joy, they kind of find themselves feeling sad because they’re missing someone. And it’s bittersweet because the season is joyous… But may moments of like, you know, ‘I wish they were here,’ or ‘I wish things turned out differently.’ So the song is really just an expression of that feeling,” she explained.</p><p>When the project was pitched to her, the decision came instantly. After Jason sent her the demo, she was immediately drawn to it.</p><p>“He had his own set of lyrics, and then he sent the demo, and I said yes straight away. I was really surprised because I was like, ‘Oh, where did this lyric come from?’ He said, ‘I really have you in mind.’ So I was like, oh, okay. I really appreciate that,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764301093319CAT83-min.jpg" style="display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The creative process flowed easily from there. “So from then on, we started going back and forth, editing the lyrics that I felt I resonated with better, figuring out the key. And then we met together, we recorded the demo, and then we came back and recorded the song. And it was literally like one recording session. So it was very quick, very easy, and I really enjoyed the process,” she added.</p><p>Now, this song serves as a perfect Christmas<strong></strong> gift not just for Filipinos, but also for Catriona’s father, as she’s set to fly to Australia to celebrate the season with her family.</p><p>“I’m spending it with my mom and dad. My dad is getting a bit old now. So, I&#x27;m really prioritizing time with him. I just want to be very intentional about making time and spending quality time with him while he&#x27;s still healthy and around,” she shared.</p><p>The last time Catriona released music was in 2021 with<strong> &quot;Love Language,&quot;</strong> the first song she wrote and composed herself. It was a validating project for her, knowing she crafted both the melody and lyrics. Before that, she released <strong>&quot;We’re in This Together&quot; </strong>and<strong> &quot;R.Y.F.,&quot;</strong> two songs that became part of her historic <strong>Miss Universe 2018</strong> journey.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764301216640CAT127-min.jpg" style="display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Now that she’s back in music, Catriona says it feels like returning home. More than a creative outlet, she sees music as a medium that allows people to know her more intimately—beyond the glamorous roles she often plays.</p><p>“I’m insecure sometimes, and like to come from someone like me, I feel like the audience is like, ‘huh, but like we know you as someone who never gets nervous and whatever.’ So I appreciate that music has been not only a creative way to express myself, but also hopefully like an invitation for people to know me as Catriona, not necessarily as like the beauty queen or the host,” she said.</p><p>In essence, releasing Every Christmas is deeply meaningful for her—not just as a return to music, but as an emotional invitation for people to see her humanity.</p><p>“I feel like I get to invite people and to know me on a human level. Because, you know, you don’t do so much on social media,” she concluded.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1t9afVWVVDBQvdQ8WH7jiG?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">Photos courtesy of <strong>Cornerstone</strong></p>

<p>Catriona Gray makes her return to the music spotlight with the release of her bittersweet holiday track, “Every Christmas,” a collaboration with singer-songwriter Jason Marvin.</p>

Catriona Gray makes her return to the music spotlight with the release of her bittersweet holiday track, “Every Christmas,” a collaboration with singer-songwriter Jason Marvin.

Beyond Pageant and Hosting: Catriona Gray Shares Why 'Every Christmas' Holds a Special Place in Her Heart

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Beyond Pageant and Hosting: Catriona Gray Shares Why 'Every Christmas' Holds a Special Place in Her Heart

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published Dec 02, 2025 02:57 PM PHT

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Catriona Gray

Miss Universe 2018

Every Christmas

Jason Marvin

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