AGE should not limit our potential,” said Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray as a reaction to the news that a 69-year-old fashion designer has qualified to compete in a beauty pageant that will send a representative to the Miss Universe Philippines competition.
“I think it’s wonderful. I’ve always loved the different stories that come from the platform of pageantry, whether it be as a trans community advocate or, now, in showing that age is just a number. Especially as a woman, I feel like age used to kind of limit us in our potential. In fact, there are terms that are always thrown at women, like, ‘Oh your biological clock is ticking!” or ‘These are your prime years!’ Just to see a woman who is unapologetically going after her dream, why not? She is enjoying herself and is representing her community. I think those are all great things,” Catriona told a group of reporters shortly after her participation at the launch of the National Arts Month (NAM) celebrations at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
Catriona has been the arts ambassador of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), organizer of the annual NAM event, for four years now.
On the inclusion of transgender women in the pageant, Catriona said she also fully supports it.
Catriona also said she is very much aware of the criticism that Miss Universe has been getting in response to all the changes it has imposed. “We’ve come across things that are considered too traditional. As the rules are starting to be lifted, I can understand why this rubs them the wrong way. But for me, I’m a fan of pageantry, but I also love what it stands for,” she began.
‘Forward movements’
“It gave me a platform to talk about my advocacy. It gives other women a platform to talk about what they want, or showcase something, or represent a community. I see pageantry as a lens of that, not just of beautiful women who are fit, who are walking onstage,” Catriona said as a reply to a question by “TV Patrol.”
“That’s why I support all these forward movements in terms of what the organization is. It’s something that I’m happy about, but I understand that other people who may have a traditional sense and just want to have a fashion show with great-looking women.”
Meanwhile, Catriona said she was happy to be serving as NCCA arts ambassador for four years, “because it’s a cause that [resonates with me].”
The 2024 NAM celebration, which happens this February, carries the theme “Ani ng Sinig, Bayang Malikhain.” It involves the seven NCCA subcommissions, namely music, architecture and allied arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts and virtual arts. (Marinel Cruz © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
